My Little Stamping Corner

Summer Crop Connection

2011-07-19T17:04:00.006-05:00

Let me just say that the Summer Crop Connection was not a disappointment. These ladies do an excellent job despite trials thrown their way. Good job, Deanna, Andrea and Ms. Nadine! I was excited to share my table with two ladies that meshed well with my personality, humor and skills. It was so much fun. We laughed together, ate together and made pretty things all weekend. As it turned out, I met several new friends and strengthened some relationships of ladies I barely knew. I was even asked to be included in a group of ladies that share 6x6 scrapbook pages of themselves. What an honor! I thank you and can hardly wait to start making some to hand out next time. Go "Sisters"!! One thing I really like about this event is that it is filled with fun and laughter whether you end up being productive or not. And, of course, there are contests that you can enter if you'd like to. Nothing is pushed on you and you don't have to participate if you don't want to. There is NO stress here and this makes it a wonderful time.

This event had a theme of birds and flowers. Everything was decorated so nice and I LOVE it when I first walk in and see all the pretty things they have in line for us...starting with our table. Here is what greeted us and absolutely stole my heart:

I love daisies and these little Gerbers were so happy to see us and bring us lots of joy. Thanks, Ladies, this is one of my favorite gifts! This picture is about 3 days away from the little flowers' freshest day. Actually, on the other side of the little green "stand" is a little message that reads "Welcome". I could hardly wait to set it in our camper to brighten our days as long as the little flower lived.

As I said above there were contests. There is one that is a Card Contest. I think they created it for me as this is all that I do. But I enjoy being around other ladies that love to play with the same toys I do, so I come to the Crop. I won First Place with this card:

In the last few days I've been enjoying making white-on-white cards. They are so elegant to me. So I pulled out my dies, embossing folder and tiny black pearls to make this. What do you think?

I want to leave you with some pictures of the event. I hope you can join us next time cause it is a WHOLE LOT OF FUN!!! Enjoy the slide made in honor of the flower theme and all my sweet friends.

Happy Stamping & Cropping!

It's Challenge Time!

2011-07-11T13:40:00.007-05:00

This time of year is filled with weddings and I'm loving making white-on-white cards. Today I used my new Rose Creations Spellbinders Dies. I think they turned out pretty.

The card base is white with a white Textile embossed panel on top. Beautiful white lacy ribbon was wrapped around the embossed piece. A small silver foil 4" doily was gently placed on top. This little doily is so fragile and will show the least bit of bending or tearing. Luckily, mine turned out perfect. A Nestie circle was cut and embossed and placed over the center. Three different sized roses were layered with dimensionals in between them. I curled up the petals a little. A large rhinestone was placed in the center. Before placing the rose down, I punched several white leaves and taped them around the bottom of the circle, then I added the completed rose on another dimensional to the center. These cards are identical except for the last part where I used a double butterfly on one and a double dove on the other. The top was attached only to the center of the bottom butterfly or dove so I could raise the wings for a three-dimension look. The butterfly was adorned with tiny graduating pearls and the dove can now see with its tiny rhinestone eye. I rarely make two cards alike but had two weddings to do and I loved how the first one turned out so I duplicated it for the other that I needed. I enjoyed making and sharing them with you.

Paper: White
Stamps: PTI Big & Bold Wishes (inside) "Mr. & Mrs."
Ink: Memento Black (inside)
Other: Rhinestones, pearls, Textile EF, 4" Silver Doily, Lace Ribbon, MS leaf and dove punches, Rose Creation Spellbinder Dies, and lots of dimensionals

These will be submitted in several challenges:
Charisma Cards Challenge - Flower
Bloggers Challenge - Flower
Creative Craft Challenge - Flower
Frosted Design - Ribbon, rhinestones, pearls
Digi Doodle - Butterfly
Flutterby Wednesday - Butterfly
Try it on Tuesday - Flower
Hooked on Crafts - Love

Summer Card Camp Week 1

2011-07-01T14:19:00.003-05:00

This week's Online Card Class for the Summer Card Camp (Week 1) is up-and-running. I am really enjoying each day's e-mails. There is so much information it's almost too much to take in. It's so exciting to see what all these ladies have in store for us "campers".

This card is a repeat of one I did a while back but I absolutely love it AND it fits the color combo for this week's challenge. We are to use summer colors: purple, pink, orange, sky blue and white. So needless to say, this card flew into my mind. Next thing I know...it's a repeat. But it makes me smile with all the summery lollipop colors...and just look at that warm yellow ribbon! Doesn't this just smack happiness??

Well, I had to add yellow and red. It just brought the other colors together so well. I used the Spotlight Technique. And can you believe NO stamps!

Stamps: None
Paper: Sweet (DCVW), Yellow, White
Other: Sheer yellow ribbon, Red Rhinestone (SU), clear rhinestones, dimensionals, circle Nesties, Jumbo Petite Scallop border (Spellbinders), Dotted Swiss EF

This is a real sparkly and happy card. What do you think?

Make It Monday #16

2011-05-23T10:38:00.003-05:00

Sympathy cards are a needed part of life. Though they are not something you "want" to pick up and do, I've learned to have at least a couple of them in my stash. Sometimes there just isn't time to sit down and do one when I need it.

These two are simple and submitted for Papertrey Ink's Sympathy Card Challenge called "Make It Monday #16". Using a sympathy type phrase and one of their stamp sets, I came up with these.

This one I used a black card base with an ivory layer on top that has been lightly stamped with the Background Basics: Text Style (love this set) on the top third in Basic Gray ink. The flowers from the Rose Creations Spellbinder Dies were cut from gray cardstock and stacked and attached together with a pewter brad. The butterflies were punched using the MS Triple Butterfly Punch, a punch I keep on my desk, my fave. I didn't want anything shiny on this card since it is to declare a serene feel of sympathy to it.

I dry embossed two double lines on the bottom third leaving enough space to stamp "With Sympathy" between them. A wide piece of black grosgrain ribbon was placed around the ivory panel. Tiny black Kaiser pearls were placed in the butterfly bellies and randomly put on the card.

Stamps: PTI: Background Basics: Text Style, Out On A Limb Sentiments
Ink: Basic Gray (SU)
Paper: Basic Black, Ivory, Going Gray (SU)
Other: Black Kaiser Pearls, Pewter Brads, Martha Stewart Triple Butterfly Punch, Rose Creations Spellbinders Nestabilities, Black Grosgrain Ribbon (unk)

The last two are the same with different ribbons and ink. Using patterened paper, I covered the bottom half of a white card base folded lengthwise over. I wrapped a sheer olive colored ribbon on one and a black sheer ribbon on the other covering the patterned paper line. "Praying For You" was stamped in Always Artichoke and Memento Black. Emphasis was placed on the card's meaning.

Stamps: PTI: Damask Designs
Paper: White, Patterned Paper
Ink: Always Artichoke, Memento Black
Other: Sheer Olive Green and Black Ribbons

Sympathy cards are a necessary part of life and must be dealt with. Thanks PTI for the challenge and for visiting my blog.

CCEE1107

2011-02-22T10:17:00.002-06:00

When I saw the challenge at CCEE, I knew I had to participate. I admit, this is the first time I've scored on a card. I have a board but usually use embossing folders when I want to have that dry embossed look. It is actually my favorite look and is how I started making cards. At that time, before embossing folders and Cuttlebugs, I used a stylus, light table and brass templates...it's such an elegant touch to even the simplest design.

This is a sympathy card and those, to me, should be simple in design so the focus can be centered around the person/circumstance as oppose to the card maker. In my honest opinion!

Only two cardstocks are used: SU's Very Vanilla and Creamy Caramel. Creamy Caramel anything was my favorite go-to neutral. I absolutely hate that SU retired it. I believe it is to their detriment. A flourish image was lightly stamped using Versamark ink to give a subtle image to go with the sentiment, again, trying to keep the emphasis on "Praying for you". Three lines were scored at the top. A narrow piece of ivory organdy ribbon was tied and wrapped around the panel then the sentiment was stamped in Basic Brown with three tiny pearls placed underneath it.

Stamps: Sketchy Flourishes (Inkadinkado), Damask Designs (PTI)
Paper: SU Very Vanilla and Creamy Caramel
Ink: Versamark, Basic Brown (SU)
Other: MS Scoring Board and stylus, Vanilla organdy ribbon, pearls (SU)

Hope you enjoy it.

Getting Crafty

2011-02-08T07:39:00.005-06:00

I love this little crafty set by PTI. It's called Studio Style. The sentiments are perfect for the way I feel most of the time. I have a love relationship with my stamps and this set expressed me all over.

For this card, I chose to make it vintage style. I had a scrap piece of this paper that looks like it's been stitched and from there, the card took off. The base is Baja Breeze (SU). The dsp was cut in 3 strips with some space in between them and placed on the base. I colored my little jar of buttons with various Copics. Isn't that little jar just the cutest thing?? After stamping the jar and sentiment in Basic Brown (SU) they were die cut and embossed with the accompanying larger scallop layer underneath them. I got some of this old lace from a vendor at a crop I recently attended and thought it's proportion went perfect with the paper and jar size. Cute tiny buttons I've had 4-evah were placed at the bottom of the sentiment. Inside it reads: "I thought we were just collecting them!" Such a cute stamp set. The edges of the card inside and out were smudged with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Love those inks, too! What do you think??

Stamps: Studio Style
Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, White, DSP scrap
Ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink, Basic Brown (SU) and various Copics
Other: Spellbinders square, rectangle and scallop Nesties, old lace, old buttons.

A Little Spring

2011-02-05T06:07:00.007-06:00

I really enjoyed making this little card. I LOVE Papertrey Ink products and used several on this one. When purchasing the triple window die I wondered if I would ever really use it. So when I got it, the Take Three: Spring stamp set just jumped in the box with it. Well, not exactly. But now that I have it I can see it being used a lot. Gotta get more of those Take Three sets. Hey, PTI, make more stamps that fit inside this cute die!! I love that the die has soft rounded corners. As a bonus, you have the squares to use, too. Go PTI!! Getting more bang for your buck. The images in the Take Threes sets fit perfectly inside these little windows...I mean perfectly. Sorry about my finger in the picture...I couldn't get it to stay closed without something holding it that way.

The card base is Certainly Celery and has dsp on top. I did not distress it, it came that way and I have no idea from what company this is from. It was a sheet I've had for a while and only pieces were left of it. I love the look and had to have it. You know what I mean, you have these things, too. I covered the base with the dsp then die cut it using PTI's triple window die. It cut through both pieces like butter. Their dies are great. Have I told you yet that I love PTI? (Wish everything I use was theirs...BUT...it's getting there.) Take Three: Spring little birdies were stamped inside the dies. The card was closed when I did this so as to get a perfect alignment inside the cut outs. A piece of antique lace was placed across the top, then using Spellbinders heart dies I cut two graduating hearts out of PTI's wonderful felt. A light green pearl brad was placed in the center of them. They were placed at an angle on top of the lace. Clear rhinestones were used for the little birdie's eyes. Inside the little flower in this set is randomly stamped and "Celebrate You" was put in the corner. I love the way this turned out and hope you do, too.

Thank you for leaving me some love! It's always appreciated...

Stamps: Take Three: Spring (PTI)
Paper: Certainly Celery (SU), unknown dsp
Ink: Ruby Red (SU)
Other: Felt and triple window die (PTI), Spellbinders heart dies, green pearl brad (Recollections), clear rhinestones, lace.

SC318 & CC308

2011-02-03T13:43:00.004-06:00

Today I have a couple of cards for two challenges on Splitcoast. The first challenge is for Color Challenge 308 to use River Rock, Gray and White. The second one is for Sketch Challenge 318 on Wednesdays.

I wanted to make the first card more subtle than the second one so the main image got a softer, shadowed look. The image was lightly stamped in white pigment ink onto Basic Gray cardstock. This piece was placed in the upper left corner with paper piercing in the lower right corner. The punched butterfly was lightly stamped in River Rock with the French Script stamp. A glue dot was added only to the body of the butterfly to give it flight. Tiny silver rhinestones were added.

The second one I stamped the image more distinct with a piece of satin ribbon around the upper left corner.

Stamps: Take Three: Summer (PTI), French Script (ret. SU)
Paper: White card base, River Rock, Basic Gray
Ink: White pigment, River Rock
Accessories: Satin ribbon, MS butterfly punch, Silver Rhinestones, Paper Piercer, Rectangle Deckle Nestabilities, foam adhesive.

Though I enjoyed making these it was hard to not to more to them. I really like the CAS style. Thank you for looking.

Please Check Back...

2010-12-20T08:51:00.004-06:00

It's been a while since I've posted and soooo not my usual but I have some Christmas cards I'm going to post in the next week or so. I've made many cards since the last post, including Thanksgiving ones, and they are ready. As with everyone this time of the year, it's been a busy time. Thank you for being patient! It won't be long.

NOV10VSNI

2010-11-15T18:11:00.005-06:00

This challenge is to pop up a sentiment. Well, that field is wide open and when I'm given that many choices I'm practically overwhelmed. I was this time...UNTIL I pulled out one of my new Pure Innocence stamps. Is she not the cutest little girl you've ever seen or what? I love the sentiment that came with it, too.

This was an easy card...believe it or not...at least, it came together easy. The card base is white with another white panel on top of it that has been embossed with the Dotted Swiss EF. My favorite thing to do with these little Pure Innocence stamps is to paper piece. She just looks like pink to me. I first stamped her on white. Then I stamped her clothes on two sister pieces of designer papers. I even paper pieced her little flower on her blouse in the same as the pants.
I cut that piece from a rectangle Nestie and embossed, sponging Summer Sun and Cameo Coral for the sky and Old Olive for the ground. I cut another larger piece from Pretty in Pink and embossed it, too.

After this, I colored her with Copics and glued the clothing pieces on. I used a Fuschia Glitter Marker and colored her barrettes, shoes and the center of her little flower. Because the marker is wide, I went outside the lines a little on her shoes. I couldn't have that, so I thought to cut a little piece of grass to cover them. You can still see the shoes but you don't see the boo-boos...whew!!

Then I stamped the sentiment in Pretty in Pink then again in Rose Red. It kinda gave it a shadow. With the die still in place, I sponged Pretty in Pink around the edges. I had this pretty little pink ribbon so I added it and of course, I had to add some of my favorite butterflies. The sentiment was raised with foam adhesive and placed over the image piece.

I hope you like this card as much as I did making it.

Stamps: Pure Innocence-Being Cute is What I Do (MFT)
Paper: White, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, misc pattern papers for outfit
Ink: PIP, Rose Red, Summer Sun, Cameo Coral
Misc: Dotted Swiss EF, Rectangle and Circle Nestabilities, Copics, Ribbon, MS Triple Butterfly Punch, Grass die (MFT), foam adhesive

NOV10VSNL

2010-11-15T18:01:00.003-06:00

I did this in a hurry and the silver layer got bent. I hate it because it is generally a cute card. This challenge is to use blue and white with a bonus to use silver.

Base card is Bashful Blue. A panel of white embossed Dotted Swiss was placed on the base. A piece of satin white ribbon was wrapped around the card base and tied with a piece of silver cord. The center of a 4" silver doily was cut out and a white circle was placed behind it to give it some stability. The silver piece was a tiny bit larger and since it was so thin it bent a little...grrrr!! An ornament was stamped in Bashful Blue and punched with the accompanying punch. A tiny light blue Kaiser Rhinestone was place din the middle.

Stamps: Ornament set (SU)
Ink: Bashful Blue
Paper: Bashful Blue, white
Misc: 4" Silver Doily, White Satin Ribbon, Silver cord, Blue Kaiser Rhinestone

NOV10VSNH

2010-11-15T17:34:00.003-06:00

Great challenge. You are to use the same image three times as a focal point. The first thing that came to my mind were these cute little stockings. This set has a double die for the two different size stockings. How cute is that?? First I die cut three little stockings. Then I took one of the stamps (since the image was to be the same) and stamped them on the die cut using Old Olive. Don't you just love clear stamps? It was so easy to do because you can see through the stamps to the die cut. Then I took a piece of Pure Poppy and Harvest Gold felt and die cut just the top part of the stocking to give me a cuff. I used my scissors to cut the length to fit. Then I added rhinestones, cotton balls and a tiny piece of Real Red ric-rac left over from a previous card and placed on the top of the middle one. Yellow Stickles were used on the ric-rac.

The card base is the next to largest Nestability circle. Be sure to cut it on the fold leaving a little bit of it out of the die to ensure you have a fold for the card. Cut and emboss the largest scalloped Nestability circle. Place this on top of the circular white base. Cut another piece of white and emboss it using the Dotted Swiss EF.

Take the little stockings and place them on the front with the center one raised on foam adhesive. I have the card propped against a styrofoam cup. You cannot see anything underneath the green scalloped piece. Hope you like it.

Stamps: Stocking Prints (PTI)
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: White, Wild Wasabi
Misc: Stocking Die (PTI), Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, mini cotton balls, Rhinestones, Pure Poppy and Harvest Gold Felt (PTI), Dotted Swiss EF, Yellow Stickles

NOV10VSNG2

2010-11-15T17:13:00.003-06:00

I don't think I've done a challenge to utilize "white space". I hope I left enough to be acceptably classified. I used another one of PTI's wonderful sets. I wish I owned all of them but as it is I hardly get time to use the ones I have (I have so many and keep an open Shopping Cart all the time...blush, blush).

Base card is white. A piece of Kraft Prints Pack was placed on the lower third of the card. Taupe Kraft Grosgrain ribbon was wrapped around the seam. I had a pack of vintage stickers and used a bow with pearls and a rhinestone. "Amazing Grace" was stamped in Close to Cocoa. A sentiment from the same set was stamped inside. It reads "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller" Let me know what you think.

Stamps: (PTI) Out on a Limb Sentiments
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Paper: White, Kraft Prints Pack (ret. SU)
Misc: Taupe Grosgrain Ribbon (Wal-Mart), Vintage Bow Sticker (Michael's)

NOV10VSNF

2010-11-15T17:05:00.003-06:00

This challenge is to make a Thank You card. Base card is black followed by a red panel. A piece of pattern paper was used on the bottom and placed on a white piece of cardstock. I used my new PTI ric-rac die...I LOVE it!! It is so cute and it's long so you can make a long strip. This piece was placed over the seam. I used PTI's Thank You stamp from Big & Bold Wishes. You must get this set. It's great. The inside was lined with white and another strip of red ric-rac. Thanks for looking!

Stamps: (PTI) Big & Bold Wishes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Black, Real Red, White, Speciality Cardstock (Me & My Big Ideas-black and white stack)
Misc: (PTI) Ric-Rac die

NOV10VSNB

2010-11-15T16:39:00.003-06:00

This challenge was to make a card using fabric, cotton, flocking and the sort. I chose this really cute little image. I love this set! I love stamps that make me smile; I enjoy every minute I'm using them just giggling and smiling like I was in grade school again. Okay, I've said it, it doesn't take much for me. If it's cute or whimsical I usually love it.

I believe the set is called "Nikki and Friends"...I'm sorry, I can't remember and it is not listed anywhere. The whole set of three are just adorable. After stamping and coloring with Copics, I added tiny little cotton balls for the snowballs and Stardust Stickles for the snow drifts and on the lake. Don't they look cute just waiting for a skater to come by and whopp 'em one??? Look at the mischieveousness on that face. The base card is Bashful Blue with a white panel embossed with Snow Dots EF. There's a piece of light blue Martha Stewart self adhesive felt borders on the bottom. The main image was cut out using an oval Nestability and embossed. Hope you like it. It was a very fun card to make.

Stamps: "Nikki & Friends"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Bashful Blue, White
Misc: Mini cotton balls, StarDust Stickles, Copics, various SU inks for sponging sky, Snow Dots EF, Oval Nestability.

Lots of Challenges=Lots of Fun

2010-11-15T13:40:00.004-06:00

I have finally completed and photographed all my challenges from VSN this weekend. So far, my Internet connection is holding on. It has been coming and going. I will post each challenge separately so I can link to it directly. Hold on, here goes...

The first one is NOV10VSNA to make a Christmas card without using red or green. I chose this wonderful old time Santa from Flourishes. I used Taken with Teal and Fruit Punch Stickles for my alternative to red and green. Fruit Punch is a pinkish orange, not red. He was stamped in Chocolate Chip and left as a silhouette with his eyes and the berries on his hat stickled. Being left as a subtle image, the sparkle really brings it to life. Base card is white followed by a piece of Kraft embossed with the Textile EF and distressed. Taken with Teal was distressed next and taped down. The main image has been described and was not distressed.

Stamps: Flourishes
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: White, Kraft, Taken with Teal
Other: Textile EF, Teal (don't remember the name) and Fruit Punch Stickles

Thanks for looking.

NOV10VSNJ-On Cloud 9

2010-11-13T12:08:00.004-06:00

The theme for VSN today is "On Cloud 9". Hostesses are presenting some good challenges. I'm so excited to be asked to host one of them. My challenge to you is to make a card of something you see in the air. It can be anything from butterflies, birds, trees, skyline, clouds, rain, planes, etc. You can use punches, stamps, stickers, designer papers, rub-ons or chipboard. It's your call. Take it easy and let's see what you got to share.

My first one I used Sahara Sand as a base. I used PTI's Wise Owl set. I stamped the large outline owl on pattern paper and cut it out; as well as the belly of the owl. The belly was raised on the main image. Eyes and nose were stamped on white scrap and black stickles were used on the eyes. When the owl was cut out and put together, foam adhesive was used to make it pop off the card. I used Always Artichoke for SU's Little Leaves and MS's leaf punch. Always Artichoke was also used on top of the base card. The ivory on top of that was embossed with Cuttlebug EF Distressed Stripes. I've always thought it looked kind of like a woodgrain pattern. I put Green Organdy Ribbon (SU ret.) across the bottom with Ivory Grosgrain on top of it and attached it to the Artichoke piece. The leaves were tucked between the top ribbon.

Stamps: PTI Wise Owl
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Ivory, Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke, Scrap pattern paper
Misc: SU Little Leaves Sizzlits, MS Leaf Punch, Wide Green Organdy & Ivory Grosgrain Ribbons, Distressed Stripes EF, Foam Adhesive

My second one is similar as I used a different kind of bird. I just love this little bird and branch punch from SU. I used a different pattern paper for its body and touched the rim of the body and wing with Bravo Burgundy. The wing was raised with foam adhesive and placed on the body. A silver gem is the eye. I used my new Labels 10 Nestability on Rose Red, cut and embossed. Pearls were placed on either end in the scallops. A little swirly stamp was stamped in Always Artichoke on the bottom edge of an embossed oval with Happy Thanksgiving stamped above it. This was placed on a slightly larger oval. A MS leaf punch and flower punch was then placed at the bottom with a tiny pearl inside the flower. Two corners were pierced.

Stamps: PTI
Ink: Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy
Paper: Sahara Sand, Ivory, Always Artichoke, Rose Red, pattern paper pieces
Misc: Distressed Stripes EF, SU Bird and Branch punch, MS Leaf punch, pearls, silver gem, mat pack/piercing template, foam adhesive

I hope you liked my examples. Thank you for joining in and coming by to visit.

VSN Challenges

2010-10-18T17:41:00.004-05:00

This is the first time I've participated in the VSN Challenges. The theme is "Cloud 9".

VSN Mini #1: Make a card inspired by one of the 3 papers given to go by; add something sparkly. I used the sample that had autumn colors. I distressed the edges of the patterned paper some but it's hard to see. The blue stripe is sparkly. I also raised the sentiment piece before placing it on the Chocolate Chip larger piece.

Stamps: PTI
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, White, My Mind's Eye (Where the Heart is)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Other: Labels 10 (Nestabilities), Orange sheer ribbon, Clear Rhinestones, foam tape

VSN Mini #2: Use grays with the spotlight technique. I used the Inspired By Nature stamp. I know this may sound "off" but I really like how some solid images come out a little blotchy. This is one of those stamps. It gives it a "thoughtful" look to me. The Basic Gray larger piece on the base black card is stamped with the Linen stamp in black Memento. After I submitted it I added a scrap piece of tiny black satin ribbon on the Hodgepodge Hardware.

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Linen (SU)
Ink: Basic Gray
Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, White
Other: Circle Nesties, Martha Stewart Triple Butterly Punch, Pewter HPH, foam tape

VSN Mini #3: Use pastels or chalks; solft colors and for an additional challenge, use Flower Soft. This card turned out to be my favorite!! I love the Pure Innocence stamps (they are so easy to paper piece) and the Cloud Die from PTI. The image was stamped on PTI white with Memento Tuxedo Black. The sky was sponged with Stampin Pastels (Barely Banana and Pretty in Pink). It gave it a kind of warm glow. I paper pieced her little dress with PIP Prints Pack and colored her with Copics. I love how her little hair "kicks" out. This piece was cut with the Labels 3 Nesties. A piece of Rose Red was used to layer but the next size was too big. This was run through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots EF (my fave). So I used the same Nestie die and traced around the outside onto the Rose Red piece and cut it out. It was perfectly sized! A piece of white felt was die cut with PTI's smallest cloud die and Stardust Stickles were traced around the outside for a little sparkle. A little Summer Mix Flower Soft was put on the tree leaves. The image piece was foam taped and put on top of the Rose Red layer then adhered with double sided tape.

The same PIP printed paper was used at the bottom of the card and sewn. Small PIP Grosgrain was placed over a larger piece of Rose Red Grosgrain and put at the top of the sewn piece. The accompanying sentiment was stamped in Memento Black at the bottom of the card.

Stamps: Pure Innocence (MFT)
Paper: White, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink Prints Pack
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Copics, Stampin Pastels, white felt, Summer Mix Flower Soft, Dotted Swiss EF, Stardust Stickles, PIP and RR Grosgrain Ribbon, foam tape

VSN Mini #4: This challenge was to use this quote and put something sparkly on it. It says: "Ever felt an angel's breath in the gentle breeze? A teardrop in the falling rain? Hear a whisper amongst the rustle of leaves? Or been kissed by a lone snowflake? Nature is an angel's favorite hiding place." ~Carrie Latet

The last one I did (never got to the fifth one...so sorry!) I used inspiration of a lone snowflake with sparkle. The base is Bashful Blue. White cardstock was embossed with the Dotted Swiss EF. Using Martha Stewart's snowflake punch, I punched out 5 snowflakes. Four were randomly placed on the white piece. A strip of Martha Stewart light blue self-adhesive stitched ribbon was used as a divider in order to break the white. Then I stamped "Peace", thinking about angels and how quiet they were in Bashful Blue and placed on a scrap piece of BB. Then the main image was a snowflake that had been run through my Xyron 150 upside down and placed in SU Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. A square was cut and embossed and the sparkly snowflake was placed on it. Then a light blue Kaiser Rhinestone was put in the center. Thought this one looked "cool"...pardon the pun!

Stamps: Martha Stewart Small Christmas Phrases
Ink: Bashful Blue
Paper: White, Bashful Blue
Other: Martha Stewart Snowflake punch and blue felt ribbon, Kaiser Blue Rhinestone

Thank you for looking at my submissions!

Something "Precious"

2010-09-14T05:38:00.003-05:00

This one isn't for a challenge, but I just had fun making it. I had a sheet of Precious Moments glitter stickers and decided to make something "soft" with it. These stickers are also dimensional.

Believe it or not, this is an Ivory card base. The Linen stamp (SU) inked in Pretty in Pink was stamped on the base. A piece of Pretty in Pink was embossed with the Dotted Swiss EF and cut out with a scalloped, oval Nestabilities. A smaller ivory piece was cut and embossed with an oval Nestabilities. While the die was still on the piece, I softly sponged Pretty in Pink over it. The rest is super simple and fast. This sweet little girl with her jewelry and heart shaped purse was put in the middle of the oval piece along with one of the little butterflies. This piece was then adhered to the scalloped piece and with foam tape placed on the card base. Another little butterfly was added to the top. I had a piece of sheer light pink ribbon I wrapped around and adhered with another one of the little flower stickers. I hope you like it.

Stamps: Linen (SU)
Paper: White, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Pretty in Pink
Other: Precious Moments sticker sheet, pink ribbon, Dotted Swiss EF, Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, foam adhesive, sponge

SSNOTIME156, SSC168 &Shabby 27

2010-09-14T04:47:00.004-05:00

My card today is for three challenges. For Sharon's Challenge, I made this cute owl card for my brother's birthday coming up soon. This one is to make a guy's card. It also fits a sketch challenge at Stamping 411. And The Shabby Tea Room #27 Challenge is to use green inspired by a lovely plant photo. I changed the layout to the side and placed the sentiment at the bottom. The inside was stamped with "have a HOOT on your birthday" and a row of leaves at the bottom. What do you think?

Stamps: PTI Mailbox Greetings
Ink: Always Artichoke
Paper: White, Gable Green (SU retired), Patterned Paper
Other: Grosgrain Ribbon gotten from a towel set bought at Walmart, MS leaf punch and Embossed Owl punch, Twine, Star Crystals

Moxie Fab Inspiration

2010-08-30T06:21:00.003-05:00

Check out the inspiration we were to use here. Isn't this a fun, clean image to use for a challenge to make a card? I'd love to be sitting right there in that room for a loooong time. I love the bright, clean and soft, curvy lines in the room. It reminds me of warmth, wavy, and sparkly moments that a shoreline in the summer gives. When I saw the inspiration, I knew the paper I had to use on it. And, hey, no stamps were used on this card...can you imagine that?

Stamps: None
Paper: Sweet Stack (DCWV), Apricot Appeal, Lavender Lace
Ink: None
Other: Ivory Grosgrain Ribbon, Orange Ribbon (salvaged from wrapping around a set of towels I purchased at W/M), Rhinestones, Jumbo Scalloped Border Petite (Spellbinders) die

Hope you like it and you feel like catching the last rays of warm summer days before embracing fall.

Best Wishes

2010-08-28T03:03:00.001-05:00

This card uses one of my all time favorite stamp sets when I want something elegant. Stampin Up's Elegant Greetings (retired set) which has a stamp for wedding, birthday, thank you and thinking of you AND the sentiments to put inside the card. It truly makes a very nice card.

I used a basic white card base. A Pretty in Pink embossed piece was punched using an MS border punch and placed on the base. A piece of white cardstock was cut out with square Nestabilities and embossed. Then the main image was silver embossed with the "Best Wishes" stamp and tiny silver rhinestone stickers were added in different places on the sentiment. A slightly larger Pretty in Pink square was die cut as well as an even larger scalloped square. The main image was adhered to the PIP piece then raised on foam adhesive and placed on the white scalloped piece. This piece was raised with foam adhesive and placed on the background panel. A piece of white satin ribbon was wrapped around the card and knotted in the front.

The inside accompanying sentiment was silver embossed...it reads "May happiness be yours today and always." A string of 5 silver rhinestones were placed underneath this.

I hope my new little bride will like it. She's so very sweet!!

Stamps: Elegant Greetins (SU retired)
Paper: White, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Metallic Silver Encore
Other: Silver Detail EP, White Satin Ribbon, MS border punch, Silver Rhinestone Stickers, Textile EF, Square and Scalloped Square Nestabilities.

Hope you like it!

CTD107 & MFTWSC08252010

2010-08-26T11:54:00.004-05:00

This was such a fun card to make! I think I am in love...again!! Those little Pure Innocence stamps are just adorable. So far, there are only a couple in my arsenal but I must add more. This card fits the Color Throwdown Challenge (CTD) to use Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz and My Favorite Things to use a flower. The first two colors were easy (love these colors and have a lot of things in them) and you may not even see it, but the So Saffron was used in the center of the little flower. I do not own any of the new In Colors so I used a Copics marker, New Leaf, for the grass. Her little outfit was paper pieced with Pretty in Pink (Paper Pack). A second flower was cut out and placed over the first one with a turn to give it a fuller and more dimensional look. Her shoes and the flower was colored using a Pink Glitter pen. My all time favorite punch is MS's triple butterfly punch. They were graced with a couple of tiny pearls. She was colored using Copics Flesh marker and New Leaf on the flower and grass.

Stamps: Pure Innocence Flower Girl (MFT)
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, White, Pretty in Pink DSP (SU ret.)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Copics markers, Pink Glitter Pen, MS triple butterfly punch, Kaiser pearls

A Little Lace

2010-08-25T08:14:00.002-05:00

This card is for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge, FTTC81. I love the look of this one. Guess I'm still in the "Grandma" mood because it reminds me or those days. Using Chocolate Chip as the card base, a slightly smaller piece of Baja Breeze (one of my fave's) was cut to place on it but not adhered yet. Another slightly smaller piece of white cardstock was stamped using PTI's Damask Designs stamps in Baja Breeze ink. The damask was only stamped on the bottom half. This was adhered to the BB piece. A piece of cotton lace was wrapped around this and tied in a bow. Then this 2-layer piece was adhered to the card base. Small Kaiser pearls were placed underneath the sentiment. I should have used a white or light backdrop so you could see the richness the Chocolate Chip adds to the crispness of the design. Hope you like it.

Stamps: Damask Designs (PTI)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, White
Ink: Baja Breeze
Other: White Cotton Lace, Kaiser pearls

Memories

2010-08-23T08:23:00.003-05:00

This second card today has a completely different feel to it as compared to the other. It has a worn and tattered look. With the Worn Lipstick ink smudges, it makes me think of the old tin lipstick round that my Grandmother had resting on her little bureau (an antique now). And the sentiment is something my other Grandmother basically said to me, never putting me down though my generation was drastically different from hers, and to be myself. And, my mother has "always" encouraged me to be who I am, do what I want, learn from my failures and don't look back. I love her so much, too, and am glad I can still tell her so!!

Now, back to the card...I sewed a zigzag stitch around the DSP to attach to the base card, then heavily smudged it with distress ink. A slit was made on the side of the card and the ribbon was laced through it and tied in a knot. Then it was inked and the ends were pulled to give it a tattered look. I didn't realize how much of this card reminds me of my Grandmothers and why I like this card so much: the sewing which both of them did, the soft inking, the floral pattern, the sentiment and the "worn" look of the ribbon. Neither had much and the inking/aging reminds me of the old furniture and old things that was all they had. I loved them both so much and miss them greatly!!

Stamps: Seeing Stars (Verve)
Paper: Baja Breeze, Kraft, Textured DSP (SU retired)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Tuxedo Memento Black (for edging sentiment square), Worn Lipstick and Antique Linen Distress Ink
Other: Sewing machine, Striped Baja Breeze Ribbon (SU retired)

Have a wonderful day!

F4A26 & Happiness

2010-08-22T06:13:00.009-05:00

I love the bright and cheery feel to this card. And, I love the sentiment because that's the way I felt when I was making it...HAPPY. It is for Challenge F4A26 on SCS to mix it up by using more than one stamp company. I used SU's retired In Full Bloom (love this flower image and the scattered dots around them) and PTI's Big & Bold Wishes. Copics were used to color the image and Stickles were used to give a little sparkle in the middle part of the flowers. There are, also, clear micro glass beads in the centers of the flowers. It seems a little hard to see, but they are there. It ties in with the glittery designer paper.

Stamps: In Full Bloom (SU retired), Big & Bold Wishes (PTI)
Paper: White, Glitter Sweet Stack (Die Cuts With a View), Barely Banana
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Rose Red
Other: Copics markers, MS edger punch, Cotton Candy and Yellow Stickles, Micro Glass Beads and Glue

Have a "happy" day!

Fab 'n' Funky #35/Fashionista Friday #43

2010-08-17T06:57:00.004-05:00

The Fab 'n' Funky #35 Challenge is to use your favorite colors. When I saw this challenge (though it's almost too late) I just had to submit this card. My favorite colors when it comes to making a card are blue with brown along with some texture of some kind. The Fasionista Friday #43 Challenge is to use diecuts. As you will see, this fits perfectly into that challenge.

Stamps: Seeing Stars (Verve)
Paper: Textured Brown (unk), White, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Baja Breeze, DSP (SU ret.)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Other: Diamond Plate EF, Stars and Circles Nestabilities, Twine, Foam Adhesive

I made this for my grandson's birthday. I tend to grab those stars to do things for the men in my family for ANY reason. They are great for male cards. Hope you like it.

Cuttlebug Spot & CAS80 Challenges

2010-08-17T05:55:00.004-05:00

I chose to include this card in 2 challenges. The first one is for CAS (Clean and Simple) #80 to use a sketch and ribbon or buttons.

The second one is to make a sympathy card which are hard to make for most everyone. I think because you usually want to taylor them to the person you're making them far. But a lot of times it makes it harder to do it that way because you don't have time to "think it through" like you want to. Here is my card for the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge to make a sympathy card. I need to keep some of these on hand. Thanks for the challenge!

Stamps: Mailbox Greetings (PTI)
Paper: White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Gray (lightly sponged over card)
Other: Textile EF, Black Satin Ribbon, Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver cord, Silver HH, SU Label Punch, Silver self-adhesive Stones

Several Challenges in One

2010-08-12T17:41:00.005-05:00

This card is being submitted to several challenges: WT283, Shabby Tea Room #22, Craft Your Days Away #1 and Party Time Tuesdays #11 (PTT). I used several embellisments and all seem to come together quite nicely. One is to use buttons, another to "reflect" (I thought of reflecting as in a slower time), another to use your favorite things and another a birthday card (thought of "Enjoy the ride" here). This card was fun to make and I didn't realize just how many different things I had used on it until trying to describe it here. The clouds were die cut from white felt and have Star Dust Stickles outlining the edges. The smaller cloud was raised on foam adhesive. A cute tiny pink sheer ribbon grace the handlebars. Glossy soft pink "Tiles" were used as the tires with black buttons and light pink floss. The little butterflies (with tiny self adhesive pearls) are grabbed all the time as this is my favorite thing to use and were randomly placed. A double scallop border of Pretty in Pink (with white Gel pen dots) and layered on the black scallop piece and was placed on the bottom. A small strip of black and white checkered ribbon graced the top edge of the border piece. I love this sentiment for a birthday card and the little bike reminds me of slow, easy days gone by. The little black/white ribbon is a tiny bit "bumpy" due to the mini glue dots but is not as wrinkly or tacky looking as it appears here. Hope you like it.

Stamps: PTI Everyday Button Bits
Paper: White, Pretty in Pink, Black
Ink: Rose Red, Tuxedo Black Memento
Other: MS Butterly punch, SU Scallop punch, PTI Cloud die, Star Dust Stickles, light pink Tiles, black buttons, light pink floss, Kaiser pearls, pink sheer and black/white checkered ribbons, White Gel Pen and foam adhesive.

Thank You Set

2010-08-08T10:39:00.004-05:00

I made these for a friend that needed 3 simple Thank You cards. They are all alike except for the EF. I love this PTI set and thought it should be the main focus. Simple, yet elegant. Hope you like these.

Now all 3 together:

Stamps: PTI Big & Bold Wishes
Paper: Rose Red, White, Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon, EF: Moroccan, Dotted Swiss, Textile
Thank you for looking!

Sunny Mini

2010-07-28T05:11:00.003-05:00

This little 3x3 card was made using cheerful colors. I wanted to use my new PTI (Papertrey Ink) cloud die and I now have a new love! They are just adorable. These were cut out of white felt. Inside reads: Hey there, Chickadee

Stamps: All PTI - Everyday Button Bits, Mailbox Greetings (for the grass)
Paper: PTI
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive
Other: PTI Cloud Die, Yellow Button, White Crochet Thread, White Felt,, Misc. Ribbon, Foam Adhesive (to raise the clouds)

With the exception of pressing just a tiny bit too hard on the beak end of the little birdie, I am well pleased with the way it turned out. I hope you are, too. Your comments are always appreciated!

Crop Connection #2

2010-07-21T12:37:00.000-05:00

We took our camper to Timberlake Campground at the Ross Barnett Reservoir so I could participate in Crop Connection's Summer Crop at Pearl Lower Elementary School. The first night we saw a most wonderful sunset. The sun was large and each moment it took setting was breath-taking. This was taken at our campsite with the reservoir waters between us and the sun.

Now on to the crop.

Amanda and Tiffany come all the way from the Mobile area. Tiffany has been so ill lately and I was glad to see she felt well enough to come. I hope you are completely well soon! Thanks, Amanda, for convincing her to come with you. It's always good to see you. Love you, girls!

Here's a look around a quarter of the room.

A lady (or two) showed up at the Crop with a great scrapbooking organizer, per se. And if you know anything about croppers, you'll know that all of us own many organizing things to "help" us put things in their proper place (oh yeah, that's where they stay). Once word got around, everyone wanted to get one of those chests. Yes, I said chest because that's what it is...a man's tool chest! It is a heavy duty tool chest on heavy duty wheels that lean back and rolls as a dolly. It stands hip high and when it opens up it slides back and reveals different levels of storage compartments. It's a dream! AND gotten at Lowe's. So two ladies across the table from us, Tammy and Boo (from Saucier), left and went to get them one. When they got back, more of us saw it. Shortly, two ladies behind me disappeared and went to get them one...the last Lowe's had! Many ladies were just beaming and so excited for the "deal" they got. After all, had it been classified as a scrapbooking item, it would have been double or triple in cost. Guess they knew a man wouldn't pay that kind of money.

Now on to the picture above...Valerie wanted one real bad, too. As a matter of fact, we talked about it off and on throughout the day and all of us were getting convinced that we couldn't live without one of these. So the next day came and when she showed up, she had one of them trailing behind her! She went to a different Lowe's and got her one. She was just tickled to death. See her showing it off to another lady just like it was a newborn baby. Just wait, Valerie, there may be more of your table mates with one when you see us next. *Ü* The good thing about it is that she began packing her toy...in essence cleaning out her stuff. All of us received such fun things so she could make room in her new scrapbooking, I mean, chest. Oh, yeah, we still love ya!

Back row: Valerie, Elwyn, me and Dawn. Front row: Nadine, Andrea and Deanna

Back row: Susan, Vana, Pat and Tammy. Front row: Barbara and Debbie (I hope I got your names straight, ladies.)

Finally, a picture of Dawn. She's already been shopping once with her $100 win. She's just beside herself. I'm so happy for you...AND jealous!!

So Much Fun!!

2010-07-18T08:15:00.008-05:00

Well, Crop Connection is over...sniff, sniff. I really think the ladies need to think about adding one more day OR extending Thursday to a full day. They do an outstanding job putting this together. Everyone is satisfied and to get more than 3 women to be satisfied is a job in itself. Kudos, Ladies! And here they are:

This crop was the first summer one they've done, kind of an experiment...and what a success it was. They chose to make the winter and summer crops different. Personally, I like them being different. I believe they will have their own personality in the long run. Not being as many in attendance this time made it more personable. I really liked that, too. I guess one of the main characteristics of this crop as opposed to any others is that each person has 6' of cropping/working space! It is wonderful and you feel so uncrowded.

Thankfully, I've had real good table mates every time I've gone and this time was no exception; I was blessed with new, lifelong friends...may I lovingly refer to them as "the pro", "the giddy" and "the wayward"...love you, girls! We were fantastic table mates and we laughed so much and so hard sometimes tears and red faces appeared. I already miss them...and a morning chuckle to get my day started. Thanks Valerie, Dawn and Elwyn for wonderful memories!!! I look forward to more in the future.

Here's me, the giddy, the pro, and the wayward...let me explain the titles. It was the first time the Giddy came to a crop. She won the $100 giveaway and was "giddy" until the thing was over. She loved the crop and is a wonderful person. The Pro is literally a "pro". She has been published MANY times in scrapbook magazines but even that doesn't tarnish her true beauty...HER. And then there was the "wayward". Every time we turned around to ask her something or go eat or anything, she had just disappeared from the table, the room, the bathroom, outside, everywhere! Like a wayward child not telling anyone a thing, she just came and went like a ghost. There wasn't a thing she didn't have on hand but she was always shopping and "collecting" more things. She's lost tons of weight and has a great personality. I love you all. You let me be myself and I can't wait til we meet again. ;)

This crop was my most productive one yet. Ideas flowed and many challenges to create outside the box jumped off pages of samples I'd brought to inspire me. I used several new stamps and products. I just love playing with paper and friends!!

There's so much to share that I will post them as I get the articles written. So, stay tuned...there's more to come.

Speedy Challenge #10

2010-07-04T17:38:00.003-05:00

This card base is Sahara Sand (I think). I used a piece of DSP on the left side with a strip of Old Olive punched with an SU Scallop Punch. I stamped the grass from Inspired By Nature on a piece of white and cut and embossed it using the Nestabilities Labels 1 die cut. Using a piece of scrap piece of Dotted Swiss embossed Real Red, it was then punched with the MS Trio Butterfly MS Punch. These were randomly placed and wings lifted a little to give dimension. A PTI sentiment was stamped in Real Red at the bottom. Very easy!

Stamps: Inspired by Nature (SU), Mailbox Greetings (PTI)
Paper: Sahara Sand, White, Early Bird (Cosmo Cricket), Real Red, Old Olive
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red
Other: Nestabilities Labels 1, SU Punch, MS Trio Butterfly Punch, Dotted Swiss EF

This card will be entered in the Speedy's Challenge #10. Thank you for looking!

CPS69 & IO Challenges

2010-06-19T11:43:00.004-05:00

Thanks to my friend, Cat, she's pushed me out of a corner and encouraged me to make a card today. NOW, I'm in the mood. Thank you soooo much!! So this is my second post. And even more exciting is that both posts were for two challenges.

The first challenge is for Card Patterns Sketch 69 and can be found here. And the second one is for Impression Obsession to use at least one of their stamps and the color red.

The card is 6 x 6. I used some real pretty mottled light beige Basic Grey paper as the first layer on top of my ivory base and wished I hadn't since it is not seen and I could have used an ivory and distressed it and you'd never know the difference. Lesson learned! I love distressing and aging.

One of my favorite colors is SU's Ruby Red and it is a sad time when that and Cameo Coral as well as some of my other fave's EVAH are retiring. What were they thinking? Okay, back to the card. The designer paper is Basic Grey from the Porcelain Pad collection. This was cut in 2.5 inch approximately squares and layered on Ruby Red. I added some soft yellow ric rac ribbon down the front. The main image was stamped in Ruby Red on top of second and third generation of one of the tree branches in Creamy Caramel (another FAVE that's going away!!!)

All edges were distressed using my scissors except for the base and the main image piece. Worn Lipstick and Antique Linen Distress Inks were used to age different panels.

This was cut and embossed using the Labels 3 Nestabilities die with a second one the next size up cut from Kraft. Worn Lipstick Distress Ink was sponged on the edges of the Kraft and DSP. Tiny white flowers from Making Memories were sponged with Creamy Caramel and tiny Opaline pearls were placed in the centers. The one in the corner is raised on foam adhesive to lift it a little above the other two little cuties.

Martha Stewart's triple butterfly punch (a regular of mine) were cut from Ruby Red scrap. A larger Opaline pearl was placed in the center of the larger butterfly and raised with foam adhesive and put in the corner. The inside was stamped first and second generation using one of the other branches and the other two little butterflies were randomly placed. I left these flat so it would be easier to mail.

It looks like I've stamped the whole thing but it's only the bottom part of the card.

Stamps: Branches of a Tree (Impression Obssession)
Ink: Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel, Worn Lipstick and Antique Linen Distress Inks
Paper: Ivory, Basic Grey Porcelain Pad, Kraft, Ruby Red
Other: Labels 3 Nestabilities, MS Triple Butterfly Punch, Making Memories White Flowers, Basic Grey Opaline self-adhesive Pearls, Ric Rac Ribbon (by Confetti)

Let me know what you think? Thanks!

Crazy for Challenges & Speedy

2010-06-19T07:18:00.007-05:00

This card is for C4C42 at Crazy for Challenges and SCF8, Speedy the Cat's Friends #8. This is an 11 x 4.25 and opens from left to right. Instead of cutting the cardstock width wise it was cut length wise. The challenge at Crazy for Challenges is to use paper flowers, any way or any kind, and the challenge at Mark's Finest Papers is to use embossing on your card. My flowers is an SU die, Floral Fusion, layered over one another. I LOVE this little die. I really like how it accompanies Martha Stewart's leaf punch so well. Of course, that little leaf just goes with everything. It is my go-to leaf punch. All cardstock is Stampin Up. Before layering the larger flower together, I pressed each little bud with an eraser top into the palm of my hand to give it some shape. A hole was punched in the center of the larger flower and a small Pink Ice Crystal Brad (SU) held it together. The small bud was shaped the same but used only two little flowers and a silver self adhesive half pearl. A couple of Old Olive leaves were placed behind the flower and attached with a glue dot. There's no reason to use dimensionals as the flowers themselves raise up nicely.

The greeting is from one of my favorite SU sets, Happy Harmony, and was stamped in Rose Red on white. This was then cut out using a rectangle Nestabilitie and embossed. The tiny flowers were stamped at the bottom and is from a retired SU set of cute little backgrounds. I think it makes the sweetest accent to a card...sorry, I don't recall the name of that set. The edges were sponged lightly with Old Olive. The flower was attached and this piece was raised with foam adhesive and placed on Rose Red cardstock. The larger floral piece was not sponged with Old Olive. This white embossed square Nestabilitie was placed on top of a Rose Red piece then adhered on the ribbon (no foam adhesive was used).

The base card is Regal Rose. A piece of white was die cut and embossed using the Jumbo Scallop Border Petite Spellbinder die. The little floral background was stamped in Rose Red. Another (same size) silver self adhesive half pearl was placed in the curve of the cut. A piece of Regal Rose ribbon was wrapped around the card and additional silver half pearls were added in the top right corner.

Stamps: Happy Harmony and Floral Petite Background (SU)
Paper: Regal Rose, Rose Red, white
Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive
Other: Floral Fusion (SU die), Leaf punch (MS), Regal Rose Ribbon, Basic Grey Opaline Silver Half Pearls, Light Pink Circle Ice Rhinestons (SU), Square and Rectangle (Nestabilities), Jumbo Scallop Border Petite (Spellbinders), foam adhesive

Let me know if you like this one and what you think. Thanks!

A Couple of Challenges

2010-06-18T06:21:00.004-05:00

As I was looking for a challenge to do, I ran up on two that this card would fit. Though it is not my favorite card, it still fits a couple of challenges. The first one is for CAS71 to make a card for things that fly. Balloons fly...kinda! She didn't say it had to breathe, ha! The second one is for WT275 to use ribbon. This is probably my favorite way to use ribbon: neatly knotted. It just looks so tailored, clean and crisp.

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (PTI)
Paper: All SU
Ink: Memento Black
Other: Dotted Ribbon (Michael's), various buttons, various sizes of circle punches, twine

Stampin B's #62

2010-06-10T07:14:00.005-05:00

Today's card is for Stampin B's Challenge #62 to make a card connected to a seashore. The stamp set I used is one of my favorites and I pull it out a lot when it comes to making my hubby a card. This image is so romanticly serene and reminds me of our times at the beach just sitting together looking at the ocean. I didn't want to add water as such because I wanted to leave the view to the imagination.

Stamps: Summer by the Sea (ret. SU)
Paper: DCWV Sweet Stack, white, Old Olive
Ink: Memento Black
Misc: Copics, Nestabilities Oval and Scallop Oval, foam adhesive

Thanks for looking!

Speedy's Challenge #5

2010-06-03T07:55:00.004-05:00

I had to make a couple of sympathy cards - I really need to keep some of these on hand as they are hard to do just off the cuff and are usually needed quickly. What better way to make a nice card than to emboss it and/or use silhouette images. This worked great with Mark's Finest Papers Challenge this week. I don't know if you can tell or not but Stickles were used in the center of the little flowers.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers (SU)
Paper: White, Black
Ink: Basic Gray
Other: Fleur de Lis Pendant and Octagon dies-Spellbinder, Triple Butterfly Punch-MS, Textile EF, Star Dust Stickles, Black Satin Ribbon, foam adhesive

JUGS #35

2010-06-01T07:26:00.004-05:00

This week's challenge at Just Us Girls is to use dry embossing on your card. This is my first love. I've always thought it looked so elegant and classy. I love all the birds in this Martha Stewart stamp set. Though they look similar, they are all different. So here's my card:

Stamps: Martha Stewart
Ink: Silver Encore
Paper: Ivory, Apricot Appeal
Misc: Green Satin Ribbon, Textile EF, Lime Green Kaiser Rhinestones, Silver EP, Various Copics, foam adhesive

This is simply done with emphasis done on the shading of the bird and the addition of the flowers and leaves for dimension. The main panel was raised on foam adhesive as were two flowers and leaves.

Circles and Dots

2010-05-26T09:27:00.002-05:00

This card is for The Shabby Tea Room #11 Challenge to use tea/tea pots or dots. Well, I'm a dot kinda gal! I love all things dotted: blouses, decor, ribbon, cards, you name it. With that said, one of my favorite embossing folders is the Dotted Swiss! I thought a couple of things came together for the "dotted" theme: circles, lollipops, jewels and brad.

This white card base has a Yoyo Yellow layer followed by a piece of real sweet sparkly paper. Over that I took a piece of Real Red and embossed it then cut the bottom with the Spellbinders Scallop Border die. Another piece of the sparkly paper was cut with a Circle Nestability with a Yoyo Yellow piece cut with a larger Circle Nestability. The smaller circle was matched to the bottom piece, raised on foam adhesive and placed on the yellow circle. This was then raised with more foam adhesive and placed "in line" with the design. A couple of small clear rhinestones were put in the middle of the lollipops and a couple were put in the border cut. After all of this was adhered, a very pretty sheer yellow ribbon was wrapped around the top portion of the card. The "wings" of a red fire circle rhinestone brad were cut off and adhered to the center of the bow.

I love the bright, happy, sugary sweet little card. This designer paper is filled with glitter and sparkle. The picture does NOT do it justice. The lemony yellow almost makes your mouth water!

Stamps: None
Paper: White, Yoyo Yellow, Real Red, The Glitter Sweet Stack (DCWV)
Misc: Spellbinders Jumbo Scalloped Border Petites, Circle Nestabilities, Clear Yellow Ribbon, Clear Rhinestones, Fire Circle Rhinestone Red Brad (SU), foam adhesive

A "Speedy" Challenge

2010-05-24T09:50:00.004-05:00

For you stampers out there, you probably get the title. Yeah, I'm referring to Speedy the Cat! This is my first challenge with Mark's Finest Papers. Don't know why this has escaped my attention before but this is only their 4th challenge. This one is to create a card or project with an animal on it.

The one I want to share is a teeny, tiny card with a little bird on it. I hope birds can be classified as an animal...hmmm. The card is actually the More Mustard piece. It lifts up for a tiny message. I cut a piece of Old Olive from the Fleur de Lis Pendant Spellbinders die as a base. The "card" is a 2x4 piece of More Mustard folded in half. A scrap piece of Naturals Ivory was Cuttlebugged with the Textile EF and cut a little smaller to fit on top. I used two graduating Nestabilities Squares for the main image with the Old Olive piece raised with foam adhesive. I thought the Naturals Ivory was a better choice since it was a little bird...it had a more "natural" feel to it. The tiny bird from PTI's Everyday Button Bits was stamped in More Mustard with an Apricot Appeal button placed in the center and the tiny wing stamped in More Mustard and cut out and placed on the button. On the inside is the sentiment, "hey there, chickadee". It's the sweetest, teeniest card. Hope you like it.

A Simple Case of Casing

2010-05-23T07:35:00.005-05:00

I wish I could take credit for this card but I can't. The changes I made were: the upper portion in a different stamp, the sentiment, the main image stamp and color of button. Okay, it may seem I've changed a lot, but it looks a lot like the original.

Using a Kraft card base, I stamped the larger Damask design in Rose Red. In the spaces between the large image, I used a smaller Damask stamp and stamped it in Versamark. A piece of Baja Breeze was stamped lightly with the Linen stamp in Blue Bayou. To the side, the sentiment from the Damask Designs stamp set in Blue Bayou. Adhere this on the card base.

Small twine was wrapped around th card and threaded through a Rose Red button and tied in a sweet little bow.

Stamps: Damask Designs (PTI), Linen (SU)
Paper: Kraft, Baja Breeze
Ink: Rose Red, Blue Bayou, Versamark
Misc: Twine (SU), Rose Red Button (SU)

Stampin B's #59 Challenge

2010-05-21T10:08:00.003-05:00

This card reflects my love for the beach...rather, just hints at it. It is a standard but landscape card using 3 circles (the challenge). I had these inchies that I'd been wanting to use and thought it just perfect for this challenge. The focal image was more emphasized with the addition of the texture of the Bahama Beach Mudd Puddles. This is the coolest stuff!!!

I used stamps from Michael's dollar bin by Studio G. from three different sets. Images were colored with Copics and Clear Stickles were added to the waves. Each image was raised on one foam adhesive before placing on the orange circle. The main image (center) was raised with foam adhesive x 3. Hope you enjoy this...because I'm headed to the beach!

Stamps: Studio G (3 different sets)
Ink: Black Memento Ink
Paper: White, Only Orange
Misc: Copics, Bahama Beach (Mudd Puddles), Clear Stickles, foam adhesive

A Little Distressing CAS #WT270

2010-05-14T12:41:00.004-05:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I've posted!! I have taken a break mostly because things were everywhere...some packed and some not. My lack of posting isn't that I hadn't wanted to, mostly been quite busy lately and disarray.

This card is for the WT270 challenge. Distressing is one of my FAVORITE things to do!! I was glad to see this challenge. I used a sentiment I really liked. You can use this card anyway by using any color combination and end up with a great looking card, fast and easy. Felt a little patriotic, so I went with the red, white, and blue theme. This sentiment would make a great graduation card, too. The card base is 6x3. Stamps used were from the Seeing Stars set from Verve.

Faux Passion

2010-04-20T09:14:00.005-05:00

Today's card is one I enjoyed making. I used a sketch from somewhere but forgot where I got it. As you know, I love aging, distressing and shabby looks. This is the first time I've done the faux stitching. I do not own a sewing machine (don't gasp too hard) so this was the next best thing. Not sure I did any more than an "okay" job on it. I used a fine pen point but think I may need an extra fine next time.

My card is a 5x5 Certainly Celery base. A slightly smaller piece of Apricot Appeal has been distressed and layered on the base. Baja Breeze was cut in a rectangle, paper pierced and edges distressed. A Not Quite Navy pen connected the piercing holes to similate sewing. A retired piece of SU DSP was then cut, pierced, "sewn", overstamped with the SU Sanded stamp in Creamy Caramel, edges distressed then sponged with Ranger Walnut Stain Distress Ink. To give this card a softer look, 2 pieces of Ivory Organdy ribbon was tied in a knot to the front side. This piece was then layered on top of the Baja Breeze piece. The next piece is Baja Breeze, edges distressed and Antique Linen Distress Ink sponged on the edges.

The main image piece was stamped with the Inspired by Nature stamp using SU markers, huffed and lightly pressed on white cardstock. I wanted a faint image, not a distinct one. The "Live With Passion" sentiment was stamped in Close to Cocoa on top of the flower. The edges were then distressed followed by a sponging of Worn Lipstick Distress Ink. This layer was raised with foam adhesive and centered on the Baja Breeze piece. Three bronze graduating size opaline pearls were placed in the bottom right corner to finish it off.

I used several things that will be retired from the SU product line. I am VERY saddened to see Creamy Caramel leave their stock. It is my absolutely favorite light neutral I reach for so many times. Apricot Appeal cardstock I love as it goes with just about everything, too. It makes a great card base. I hope you enjoy this card. It was a little time consuming but I love the outcome. Your comments are always welcomed!

Stamps: SU Inspired By Nature, Sanded
Paper: Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Baja Breeze, ret. SU DSP, white
Ink: Close to Cocoa, SU Markers Ranger Distress Inks: Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, Worn Lipstick
Other: Ivory Organdy Ribbon, Basic Grey Bronze Opaline self-adhesive Pearls, scissors for distressing, Paper Piercer

Big Wishes

2010-04-03T05:26:00.004-05:00

PTI's Big & Bold Wishes are great! They are simple and I love the size of the sentiments. Today I want to share with you a card that can be used for literally anything. It reads "Wish Big" and tends to lend itself to birthdays, although I think about wishing big for a great day, graduation, cruise or even wedding. Depending on the sentiment used inside, it can go many ways. I love the classiness of red, white and black cards.

Stamps: Big & Bold Wishes (PTI)
Paper: White, Real Red, Basic Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: MS Butterfly punch, Black Satin Ribbon, Clear Rhinestones, Rectangle Nesties, Glue Dots and foam adhesive

Hey There

2010-03-28T16:04:00.003-05:00

Here are the last two cards from the set mentioned in the post below. These two use the "Hey There" sentiment from PTI. In the first one, the inside sentiment reads "May your day be filled with happiness". This was stamped on a little smaller white piece of cardstock with mini dots (next to the smallest) from Polka Dots Basics II on the bottom. These were stamped in Brocade Blue.

Stamps: Big & Bold Wishes and Polka Dot Basics II - PTI
Ink: Brocade Blue
Paper: The Sweet Stack-DCWV, Regal Rose
Other: Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Self Adhesive Pearl, Glue Dot (for securing the ribbon knot)

On the second one, a little dragonfly punch was punched out using Apricot Appeal DSP. It has tiny flowers on it like the sparkly patterned paper. "You've been on my mind" sentiment was stamped inside in Brocade Blue. I'm not sure I like this as it seems a little busy. What do you think?

Stamps: Big & Bold Wishes - PTI
Ink: Brocade Blue
Paper: White, The Sweet Stack (DCWV)
Other: Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Lime Green Rhinestones (Kaiser), Clear Rhinestones, MS Dragonfly Punch, Glue Dot for securing ribbon knot

Cold vs. Spring

2010-03-22T07:41:00.005-05:00

The war is on!! The winter cold is having trouble giving up its stronghold in the south. A cooooold front came through with strong winds expressing its vicious fight in leaving for the season. Though there might be another "snap" on Easter, as it usually is, it is on its way out...YAY!!!

With all of that said, the warm days struggling to stay around and more sunny, happy days appearing had me making some springtime cards the other day. I found a layout I really liked and ended up making a set with simple differences. Here are a couple of them.

I love the sparkle of the DCWV The Sweet Stack. Click on the image if you can't see it on the post so you can see how pretty it is. This is such a happy pad of paper. It is great quality and thick like cardstock.

The inside sentiment of these say "a hug with a fold in the middle". I love this set from PTI! It has such cute sentiments and a nice variety of them, too.

Stamps: Big & Bold Wishes (PTI)
Paper: Pretty in Pink, White, The Sweet Stack (DCWV)
Ink: Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie
Other: Cream Grosgrain and Blue Satin ribbons, self adhesive pearls and rhinestones

I'll be sharing the rest of the set in the next few days. Stay tuned!

Wedding Card

2010-03-16T08:12:00.002-05:00

Today I am sharing a wedding card for a friend's son. I began with a white card base. Then I took an 1/8" smaller piece of white and placed the D'Vine Swirls EF on 2/3 of the piece leaving 1/3 at the bottom for the sentiment. I like this sentiment and thought it would be nice for a wedding. Marriage is a simple pleasure and does fill your heart with joy! A white piece of narrow organdy was tied in a simple knot on the front. Tiny Kaiser pearls were randomly placed on the "swirls" and Basic Grey Opaline silver pearls were placed beside the sentiment. A true wedding sentiment was stamped and embossed in silver on the inside. Though this is simple, it makes an elegant statement. Hope you like it...

Stamps: Floral Whimsey (Verve), retired SU for inside sentiment
Ink: Silver
Paper: White
Other: White narrow organdy ribbon, Kaiser and Basic Grey self-adhesive pearls, Silver EP, D'Vine Swirls EF

Sunny Days Are Coming ...

2010-03-08T10:53:00.003-06:00

My card is for the SSNOTIME129 and FTTC56 Challenges. One is to use a punched border and the other is to use scallops, so this fit both challenges. I'm beginning to get Spring fever and really felt the urge to make something cheerful. Yes, little umbrellas can be cheerful!

This is a white square card base. A larger white piece was cut and a scallop border was punched all around it, then placed over the front of the card base. Another piece of white was cut to fit inside the scalloped piece and stamped with a Basket Weave. A Barely Banana circle was cut with a Nest. die, as well as a white scalloped die. The BB piece was also stamped with the little raindrop in this stamp set in Versamark. It's hard to see. The umbrella was stamped in Orchid Opulence and cut out. A rhinestone tops the umbrella and a touch of Yellow Stickles were touched inside each little fun flower. This was raised with foam adhesive and placed over the umbrella handle. The yellow circle was also raised with foam adhesive. (There is a shadow behind the umbrella handle...it is not suppose to be there.)

Stamps: Scattered Showers (PTI), Basket Weave (Flourishes)
Ink: Orchid Opulence, Versamark, Pink Passion
Paper: White, Barely Banana, Memento Black
Other: Yellow Stickles, Circle and Scallop Circle Nesties, Scallop Border Punch (MS), foam adhesive

The Sweet Sounds of Birds

2010-03-06T11:45:00.003-06:00

Today, I want to share a card that reminds me of spring. Listening to the birds happily returning to the area and seeing more daylight and the warmth of the sun just makes me want to sing.

This card uses a Pretty in Pink card base. A Rose Red piece was embossed using the Textile EF. Small square lemon nail heads were put in each corner then this panel was placed on top of the card bsae. The bird image was embossed on white cardstock using silver detail EP and colored with Copic markers, then cut out. A PIP piece was cut out using a Rectangle Nestie and embossed. A smaller piece of musical patterned paper was placed inside the embossed area of the PIP. The bird image and PIP with musical piece were raised with foam adhesive.

Stamps: Martha Stewart Clear Bird Stamps
Ink: Silver Encore
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, White, Patterned Paper
Other: Silver Detailed EP, Copic markers, yellow nail heads, rectangle Nestabilities, Textile EF, foam adhesive

Lots Happening

2010-03-04T07:11:00.003-06:00

First off, I have to share a little of my absence. I ran the Half Marathon last weekend in New Orleans at the Mardi Gras Marathon Race. Everything was great: temp, excitement, felt good, etc., etc. When I was approaching my 7th mile, my world changed! I tripped on New Orleans' finest street repairwork and fell hard! I got banged up pretty bad but am thankful I didn't break anything. If you are interested in reading my report, go here.

Now back to my stamping. I won the Flourishes Challenge for last week and am soooo excited about that! It was such a surprise and I "needed" some good news, ha! I can hardly wait to go shopping.

Today, I have a card that I'm submitting for the SCS CAS56 Challenge. It is "spring"y and feminine.

The card base is white cardstock. A square piece of Pretty in Pink was placed on top. Two different PIP dsp were cut in different sizes and placed an 1/8" smaller than the PIP solid piece. Regal Rose ribbon was placed around where the two pieces meet. Light pink taffeta was placed around it and knotted. The sentiment was stamped in Regal Rose on a scrap piece of PIP then die cut using Spellbinders Fancy Tags. A tiny Kaiser pearl was placed on either side.

Stamps: PTI Button Bits (sentiment)
Ink: Regal Rose
Paper: White, Pretty in Pink, PIP DSP
Other: Regal Rose Grosgrain, Light Pink Taffeta, Spellbinders Fancy Tags die, Kaiser Pearls

Whimsically Elegant

2010-02-26T08:07:00.005-06:00

Okay, so I don't know how to title this. But as I look at my card, this title still comes to mind. The challenge today on Splitcoast is to use textures (think embossing folders, ribbons, and/or flowers, etc. – most embellishments fit into this category!), and at least ONE color that is one you don’t NORMALLY use (be sure to identify it in your card description). The third part, though optional, is to use some patterned paper in your creation. Without further adieu, here is my card for the very first F4A1 Challenge.

The base is a 6x6 white card. Black 6x6 cardstock was placed over the top for the first layer. Someone gave me this paper recently and I love it. The thing I love about it is the sparkle which gives it a feel of silver. This is one "color" I do not use much. The patterned paper was cut an 1/8" smaller than the black piece. I wrapped white organdy ribbon around this piece finishing it with a bow in the front. I cut a piece of silver cardstock from the Labels I Nesties. A large white flower chipboard was raised with foam adhesive and centered on the Label. The center is black glitter. It came together well.

Stamps: None
Paper: Patterned Paper (unk.), silver cardstock, black, white
Other: Labels I Nestie, large flower chipboard, white organdy ribbon, foam adhesive

I hope you like this and look forward to knowing what you think.

Pink Cards

2010-02-23T11:59:00.009-06:00

Today I have a couple of cards I want to share with you that use shades of pink.

The first one is for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge to use flowers of any kind on your card. Beginning with a white card base, I chose this beautiful Basic Grey paper to begin with. I stamped a sentiment from Verve's Beautiful You set in Mellow Moss, cut and embossed using Labels I die cut and sponged Pretty in Pink along the edges before removing the die. The second piece was cut and embossed using an Octagonal die, sponged with Mellow Moss and lightly stamped in PIP with SU's retired floral stamp from Petite Patterns. The sentiment was placed on the octagonal piece with foam adhesive. Martha Stewart's edger was punched on the bottom of the designer paper and laid on top of the PIP cardstock. After placing a strip of Mellow Moss along the bottom edge, the patterned paper piece was placed above it. Pink taffeta ribbon was then wrapped around the card and run through a floral ribbon slider by SU and tied in a knot. Tiny pink rhinestones were added to the octagonal piece. MS triple butterfly punch was punched out of PIP cardstock. To small pearls were added to the large butterfly and raised with foam adhesive; then put on the corner of the sentiment. Inside (not shown) a piece of Mellow Moss was placed on the bottom edge with a scrap piece of Basic Grey pink on top of it. The two smaller butterflies that were punched out of the PIP for the larger butterfly on the front is gracefully put at different angles along the left side above the double strip.

Stamps: Beautiful You (Verve), Petite Patterns (SU, ret.)
Paper: Basic Grey Porcelain, Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink, white
Ink: PIP, Mellow Moss
Other: Octagon and Labels I Nesties, tiny pink rhinestones, small pearls, MS triple butterfly and edger punches, SU pink taffeta ribbon, SU flower ribbon slide, foam adhesive

The second one is Flopsey with pink cheeks holding "her" pink cup of coffee and wearing pinky Spring Mix Flower Soft houseshoes. She was fun to color, too. Just look at her sweet little cheeks and inner ears! Aren't they worth kissing?? Flopsey was stamped first on a piece of white cardstock; then stamped a second time, colored, cut out, raised on foam adhesive and placed over the first one. A scrap piece of white cardstock was embossed with the D'Vine Swirl EF and cut a little smaller than the card itself (4.25 x 4.25).A smaller piece of Creamy Caramel was wrapped with SU Chocolate Satin ribbon and placed on top of the embossed piece. The top layer was then placed on top.

Stamps: Flopsey (My Favorite Things)
Paper: White, Creamy Caramel
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: D'Vine Swirl EF, Copics, Spring Mix Flower Soft, foam adhesive

I hope you like these. I welcome any constructive criticism. I'm loving these Copics!!

Floral Cards

2010-02-21T19:16:00.004-06:00

These were made for a couple of challenges, but since I made several cards at one time, not at home, and was not where I could post them then, I forgot which ones they were for. NOTE: Keep post-it notes on hand to document the names of challenges!!

I wanted only a little bit of the black showing under the main panel as if it was a shadow, so I took 2 black scalloped Nesties, pieced them, then taped them together to give it that look without looking like a completely different panel. The top piece (white) was embossed, raised on foam adhesive and placed on the Baja Breeze piece.

Stamps: Inspired by Nature (SU)
Paper: Basic Grey Two Scoops, Baja Breeze, Basic Black, White
Ink: Ruby Red
Other: Rhinestones (Mike's), Square and Scalloped Square Nesties, foam adhesive

This one was, also, for a challenge, but didn't get posted as such. I used More Mustard and Kraft to bring out the colors in the patterned piece. This stamp set is so versatile and a must-have. I stamped the flower in black on More Mustard and cut out. Three Kraft leaves were attached to the back of the flower and raised on foam adhesive. Rhinestones were placed in the center of the flower and the edge of the Label 1 piece. A piece of Basic Grey golden patterned paper was embossed with the Dotted Swiss folder.

Stamps: Beautiful You (Verve)
Paper: Kraft, More Mustard, Basic Grey Two Scoops
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Labels 1 Nestie, Very Vanilla Grosgrain, Studio 18 Rhinestones, Dotted Swiss EF, MS Leaf and Edge punches, foam adhesive

'Specially For You

2010-02-19T06:57:00.008-06:00

Throughout the next week I'll be posting cards I made at the Crop last weekend. Here are a couple.

The first one I used a Naturals Ivory 4x4 card base layered with some Basic Grey Two Scoops. I thought Blue Bayou and Wild Wasabi colors matched this paper well. The main image was stamped in Blue Bayou and watercolored using the ink pad method. It's a little hard to tell but the center flower was lightly watercolored using Wild Wasabi. The flower was cut out and "formed" by bringing the petals up in order to give it more character. A large brad was added to the center of the flower. Square Nestabilities were used to cut out the Blue Bayou and Wild Wasabi pieces with the WW piece embossed before adding the flower, which was pop dotted to the center.

The sentiment piece was stamped on NI in Blue Bayou. This was punched out using SU Oval and Scalloped Oval punches. A small black Kaiser pearl was added to the "so" of You're So Special. One of the trio of flowers stamp in that set was punched out using the corresponding SU punch. It was then raised on foam adhesive. A piece of Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon was wrapped around the bottom and layered with the main image on top.

Stamps: Boho Blossoms (SU)
Paper: Basic Grey Two Scoops, Naturals Ivory, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi
Ink: Blue Bayou
Other: Square Nesties, Oval, Scallop Oval and Boho Blossoms SU punches, Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon, Black Kaiser Pearl, Brad, foam adhesive, brush for watercoloring

The next one was made using NO stamps. Actually I just love making cards with or without stamps. This one is very simple as you can see. I found these gorgeous flowers from a vendor at the Crop last weekend. I got one of every color they had. They are large and came with the large, pretty colored brad in the center and only for 50 cents! Just couldn't resist these. A scrap piece of the Cranberry Crisp was punched with the SU scallop edge. A string of rhinestones were placed on it. This was as straight as I could get them; even though they were not cut apart they look crooked. It doesn't show IRL as it does here.

Thank you for looking!

The Last of 'em

2010-02-17T10:20:00.002-06:00

Here's the last two Valentine's cards I came up with. I think my hubby is Sweet Stuff and remembered I had this cute little stamp retired from SU. I used Glossy Accents to top the lollipop and give it some shiny dimension.

Stamps: Very Puny (SU, ret.)
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Real Red, white
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Other: 2 shades of pink Copic markers, Glossy Accents, Circle and Scalloped Circle Nestie, D'Vine Swirl EF, Red and White striped SU grosgrain, foam adhesive

A new found friend at the Crop saw my cards and wanted me to make her husband a card. We came up with a design and she chose the cardstock. No stamps were used on this one. I'm really liking the square cards and can see more in my future, ha!

Paper: Pink and Red (unk. source), Note dsp (DCWV Music Stack)
Other: Labels 1, Heart Nesties, White sheer ribbon, heart brad, double sided and foam adhesive

Crop Connection 2010

2010-02-16T16:31:00.006-06:00

Last weekend was so much fun! Revisiting friends and making new ones were great! Though this was a Crop, I attend so I can have dedicated time to spend making cards. As a matter of fact, I think I'm the only card maker there. Not to say some don't make them, but that's all I do. I was productive in making many cards and am pleased with that. In the next few days, I'll be sharing them as I upload them to my site.

For now, I want to share some pictures of my friends!

Beth and Me

Amanda and Tiffany

Amanda and Me

Tiffany and Me

Fantastic Tablemates: Me, Terri and Caroline

Jo (who is trying to figure out how she can say that SHE made my cards...) Jo worked the Crop and wasn't able to "play" with the rest of us. Glad to get to see her; she's so sweet!

A Little Birdie Told Me

2010-02-16T11:18:00.002-06:00

If only I would "practice" more with my Copics. This is a new tool, if you please, for me and I haven't spent enough time playing with them. BUT, every time I do I fall more and more in love with these. They are wonderful!

I got this sketch from SCS somewhere and really liked the layout so I thought I'd give it a try. It really makes a statement and so easy to do. To me, anything layered on even a tad of black makes the layer "pop".

Stamps: Martha Stewart Clear Bird Stamps
Paper: White, SU Apricot Appeal 6x6 DSP (ret.), Black
Ink: Silver Craft
Other: Silver Detailed EP, Copic Markers, Textile EF, tiny blue and clear rhinestones, black grosgrain (SU), foam adhesives

Comfy?

2010-02-12T08:54:00.003-06:00

I just love PTI's stamps or have I told you that yet? They are so "me" and I find I reach for those quicker than any other stamp line. Can't wait to get more...I AM making a new list. Waiting for the new sets to be available. Okay, now on to my card.

This one uses the On My Couch set. I paper pieced the couch using SU dsp paper. Using one piece of Apricot Appeal, I embossed the top with the Dotted Swiss folder and the bottom part with the Textile folder. These are my two favorite folders, too. Don't you just love the sentiment?

Stamps: On My Couch, PTI
Paper: Black, Apricot Appeal, White, SU DSP
Ink: Memento Black
Other: White polk dotted black grosgrain ribbon, Labels 1 Nestability, small SU corner rounded, Dotted Swiss and Textile EF, foam adhesive

One More, I Think

2010-02-10T08:37:00.004-06:00

Needed another Valentine's card (at least I think one more). The card base is a Pretty in Pink 5x5 card. A smaller piece of white cardstock was embossed using the Dotted Swiss Cuttlebug embossing folder. Hearts were punched out of Martha Stewart's Holidays Punch Pad using her heart punch. The center heart (For You) is raised on foam adhesive. The only stamps used was for the sentiment inside.

Stamps: Sentiment inside (So Many Sayings, Ret. SU)
Paper: Pretty in Pink, White, MS Holidays Punch Pad
Other: Dotted Swiss EF, foam adhesive

CAS

2010-02-10T07:15:00.005-06:00

Just a clean and simple (CAS) card for you today. I saw this on Splitcoast and just had to do one. I WILL do more of this soon! It makes such an elegant statement. Thanks for looking!

The base card is 6x6 out of Naturals Ivory. Cut another piece of NI 1/4" shorter around two sides. Repeatedly stamp Damask design in Summer Sun. I wanted mine to look like an aged piece of handwork so I didn't press hard nor did I line up the images "perfectly". Then the Linen stamp was inked with Summer Sun and pressed lightly over the Damask image. Piercing edged this panel and finally I roughed the edges with my scissors. This is my favorite way to distress. I've tried other tools and continually come back to this way of giving a rough look to my pieces. Place plenty of foam adhesive on back and place on main card.

Die cut a scrap piece of NI with the Fancy Tags from Spellbinders. Stamp "Just Because" in Pumpkin Pie. Add pearls. Raise the tag with foam adhesive and adhere to card.

Stamps: Damask Designs (PTI), Linen (SU)
Paper: Naturals Ivory
Ink: Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie
Other: Fancy Tags (Spellbinders), piercer, Basic Grey tiny pearls, foam adhesive, scissors for roughing edges

Note Cards

2010-02-09T07:50:00.004-06:00

These two cards will be for friends I will soon get together with this weekend. I can hardly wait to see them again. These as well as one I posted yesterday are cut using the largest Labels One Nestabilities being sure to leave an edge to make the fold for the card. Double is the word for the first card. There are two Labels One cuts, two hearts and two butterflies. Have I told you how much I love my Nesties!! This one should justify what I mean. Actually, I didn't realize all I used were Nesties on this card until I began describing it! And I certainly didn't realize I had so many doubles, ha! It just happened. The only thing you may not notice is the sponging I did on the white base card inside the larger die.

Paper: Basic Grey Two Scoops, Bravo Burgundy, Pretty in Pink, Vellum, White
Other: Nestabilities: Labels One, Hearts, Butterflies, foam adhesive for the butterflies

I just love the softness to this next one. Pink, pink and more pink. Delicate, feminine and whimsical. Turning the card on its side made this a landscaped card. The base was lightly sponged in Pretty in Pink with tiny flowers stamped in second generation PIP. A couple of Martha Stewart leaves (one of my favorite punches) were punched out of PIP. A Labels Three was punched out of PIP to "house" the main image. An Oval was punched out of white c/s, stamped, sponged and placed on top with foam adhesive. Only two of the three layered stamps were used from the Cutie set of Stampology. The first layer is in PIP and the outline was in Rose Red. This oval was edged in PIP. The small flower of the Flourish Accent Spellbinders die was cut, embossed and then stenciled in the Rose Red.

I hope you enjoy these little cards. Thank you for your sweet comments!

More Valentine's Cards

2010-02-08T11:45:00.005-06:00

I Love the Martha Stewart's Holidays Punch Pads for Valentine's Day. The DSP is shiny and the red strips are reflective as well. I punched out 3 hearts from the heart page and added pink rhinestones.

Stamps: So Many Sayings (Be Mine, row of hearts) SU, retired (used inside)
Ink: Real Red (inside)
Paper: Martha Stewart, white
Other: MS heart punch, pink rhinestones, MS heart border punch

The next card was cut in the shape of the largest Labels One Nestie being careful to leave a little outside the cutting line to make a fold for the card. Pretty in Pink and So Saffron was sponged inside the template. The cup was stamped onto designer paper, cut out and raised with foam dots.

Stamps: Coffee with Friends (Flourishes)
Paper: White, Basic Grey Two Scoops
Ink: Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Real Red
Other: Labels One Nesties, foam dots

So Much Fun!

2010-02-07T14:28:00.006-06:00

Well, yesterday was a fantastic day of card making for me. FINALLY.... I got my mind together and made several cards and had the best time in a loooonng time! The first two I want to share are for a couple of challenges.

I love Cindy Haffner's cards and her challenges (though I've not participated in any lately). This one is for FTTC52A

I loved the pinks, red and white colors. I used some new paper from Martha Stewart's Holidays Punch Pad for the dotted squares as well as the pink sparkle strip along the bottom. Nesties are my favorite tools now and I used my new Labels Three and layered a red and pink Octagonal embossed shapes on top. The double heart is from K & Company, Wild Raspberry adhesive chipboard set. It had the pink rhinestone on it and I added clear rhinestones in the corners of the Label Three pink piece. This piece along with the octagonal piece are raised with foam dots.

"Hugs & Kisses" is from SU's retired So Many Sayings Set. I used SU's oval and scallop oval punches to cut the sentiment out; this was raised on foam dots, too.

Stamps: SU So Many Sayings (ret.)
Paper: MS Holidays Punch Pad (dotted and pink paper, pink sparkly strip), textured pink c/s (unk.), white (base card), Real Red, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Real Red
Other: Nesties (Labels Three & Octagons), SU Oval and Scallop Oval punches, double heart (K & Company, Wild Raspberry adhesive chipboard), clear rhinestons, foam dots

The next card is so soft. I used Bravo Burgundy I think for the very first time. It seems soooo dark but seemed to go well with the Basic Grey cupid sheet from the Two Scoops pad. This card is for SSNOTIME124.

Using three Nesties made this card come together quickly. The Labels Three piece was sponged with Pretty in Pink.

Stamps: MS Small Christmas Phrases for "Love", Row of hearts from SU's So Many Sayings (ret.)
Paper: Basic Grey Two Scoops, white,
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Bravo Burgundy
Other: Nesties (Labels Three, nested Hearts, Labels One, Dotted Swiss EF, white ribbon, clear rhinestones, foam dots

I hope you enjoy these. I'll be uploading more in the next few days. Thanks for looking! Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Crazy!?!?!

2010-02-01T07:37:00.004-06:00

That's the best word I can come up with. I'm just about to go crazy over here! [No comment on the normal status!] I've bought SEVERAL things lately and am dying to jump in and use them. To begin with, I've been trying to re-organize my stamping room and since I can't work in chaos I'm trying really hard to get finished along with doing many other things at one time; i.e., cleaning the house, increase my running (time consuming), going through a huge amount of daily e-mails, updating ALL of our blogs, etc., etc., etc.

I'm also beginning to get ready for a large crop weekend in less than two weeks. I'm the only card maker/stamper there, but we share all the same tools and I love to be with other ladies. It is 3 days of never ending fun, food, creativity, laughter, making new friends and visiting with old friends!!! I'm going to take some things to give away as well as try to sell a few tools I've upgraded from.

Now, for the dilemma: I've recently got some new things: Nesties (my most favorite tool evah!!), a new paper trimmer (this is different from any I've had in the past and is a learning curve as it does several things), new stamps, new punches, new papers and some new embellies. I can hardly wait to get it together enough to actually do something. With bated breath, I'm anxiously pushing to get through this needed change of cleaning out, reorganizing and straightening so I can starting creating again. As long as things continue to go as in the previous couple of days, it won't be long before things return to normal ... is this really possible??

Great Find!!

2010-01-15T12:28:00.002-06:00

I went by Michael's yesterday and boy did I find a treasure! They were having a huge sale AND 30% off on all Martha Stewart scrapbooking things!!! I was beside myself. So off I went to get a buggy 'cause I KNEW there were new punches in my near future. I love her punches. They are so pretty and some are so elegant. I ended up getting 10 of them!! I even got some of her stickers, paper, and clear stamps. And, no, these weren't all Christmas items like you'd think. Some of my punches are pop-up ones, some border ones, some embossed ones, a couple of regular ones and even one that had 3 stamps with the punch of that stamp. It was a bird stamp/punch. Each stamp is a little different and when you punch it out you have three completely different ones. So cool!! I'd never seen these before. Now, I wanted more (I love punches - Ü) but restrained myself. I had so much fun...wish you had been there with me! Off I go to finish working out, getting lunch and playing with these for a while. See ya soon ...

Still Alive

2010-01-08T14:09:00.003-06:00

To those who might be wondering...I'm still alive. We have been so very busy since Christmas, there's not been any "play" time for me. Right now I'm decorating an SU calendar I got several years ago. I've used it from the beginning but never decorated it. That's right...it's been naked (blush, blush). This is one of the reasons to get one of these kind...to decorate it. Okay, so I'm late. But it really is a cool calendar to have. It is not a true calendar as you know one, but a page per month with the dates down the side. All you do is place the name and event next to the number (date); it is reuseable every single year. I change the person's age or anniversary in January to reflect the present year's age. I hope to get back soon with some card making. Got a few birthday cards to do. Actually, February and March are huge months for birthdays in our family. So just because I haven't made anything lately doesn't mean that the buying has stopped!! Oh well...see you soon...and keep on inking that rubber!!

Christmas Card

2009-12-31T11:15:00.005-06:00

Here are a few cards I made for Christmas. I just LOVE these images. Supplies are as follows:
Stamps: Winter Wonderland Kit (don't remember who makes it; got it last year)
Paper: SU
Markers: Copics
Accessories: SU ribbon, Star Dust Stickles, Sparkly Fluff (got from CHA-no brand listed on container), CB Snow Dots EF

Stickles were used on the snowballs, snowdrifts and ground. The fluff was used on mittens, the little ball on the end of the caps and the band on the little girl's hat. You probably can't tell, but the sparkly fluff really makes it. This was the first time I used my new Copics Sketch Markers. What do you think?

Surprises!

2009-12-31T09:42:00.003-06:00

I was so excited to see find some things in the mail recently! Let me begin by the great little package I received from my friend, Olga. Just look at all the cute things she sent. I love, love, love it! Thanks so much!

Then there were a couple of handmade birthday cards received from ladies I've never met! Aren't they cute?

Thanks to all of you who are so gracious to take the time to make someone else's day...me!!

Shelby's Cards

2009-12-07T09:26:00.003-06:00

I decided to put Shelby's cards on a separate post.

Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes Drummer Boy
Paper: Real Red, White
Ink: Memento Black, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Bold Bright Markers, CB Textile EF, foam tape, sponge for shading

Don't know if you can tell, but there is light PIP sponging along the edges of the main image for a softer look.

Although all of her cards are done well, I thought she did an excellent job on this one; but I'm so partial to the aging and distressing looks.

Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes Drummer Boy
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Naturals Ivory
Ink: Memento Black, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: CB Distressed Stripes, Earth Elements Markers, foam dots

The EF went well with the Creamy Caramel aging sponged on the main image. This is my favorite of all she made.

Here is the last one. (I sure hope the recipients do not check this blog because I'm sure she wants these to be a surprise; but she wanted me to put them on it anyway.)

Recipe:
Stamps: SU Snowflake Spot
Paper: Cool Caribbean, White
Ink: Tempting Turquoise Craft
Accessories: Clear EP, CB Snow Dots EF, Circle Nesties, foam dots

My Time with Shelby

2009-12-07T05:48:00.015-06:00

Shelby came to visit with us this weekend and we had so much fun. She is the sweetest granddaughter in the world!! (We're on the parade route and it was so cold and windy. I NEVER wear a hood.)

She made several things. As usual, I showed her how to do something new. This time it was embossing with pigment ink and embossing powders. She did a great job! First off, she began making some peppermint treat bags for some of her friends.

Recipe:
Stamps: SU Snowflake Spot
Paper: Real Red, White, Silver
Ink: White craft
Accessories: White EP, SU Ornament Punch, Labels 1 Nestabilities, Foam dots

After filling the little bags, staple a large red Labels 1 piece on it. Place the next smaller Labels 1 white piece over it attaching it with double sided tape to hide the staple. Emboss a snowflake in white on a piece of Real Red cardstock. Punch out with SU's new Ornament punch (I love this punch!!). Using the ornament punch, I took some scrap silver paper and punched out just the top part. Trimming it if necessary to fit the red ornament already punched, I used some liquid glue to attach it. Raise the ornament with a foam dot and put on to complete.

This one is a close-up of the first one she made, but then decided she wanted to go red and white.

She, also, made snowman cupcakes and wanted to share these with you, too. The head is made with a large marshmallow on top of the already iced cupcake, iced, and decorated. She had so much fun doing these.

Here she is holding one that is decorated only with the gel icing. She's the prettiest thing, don't you agree?

Thanksgiving Treats

2009-11-17T05:57:00.012-06:00

I made a couple of things for my parents that I thought they might enjoy. Being hard to buy and do for, I try to make little things along the way I think they might like...fingers crossed here! This is for Thanksgiving.

I decorated an SU box that I recently got. These boxes are real good quality and hold a good bit. This is the first time I've tried the cracked glass technique and really liked it. I will be doing more and hopefully they will get better each time I do it. This is my first time to do the Cracked Glass technique.

Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Graceful Words (SU ret.)
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Close to Cocoa and More Mustard, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie for sponging on tree, White Craft for distressing the tag, Ranger Walnut Stain for "cracking", Versamark, Gold Encore
Accessories: Suze Weinberg's UTEE, Gold EP, Oval and Scallop Nestabilities, MS Butterfly and Leaf Punch, Basic Grey Copper Opaline Pearls, foam tape, heat gun
Technique: Cracked Glass

After stamping the main image in Close to Cocoa, I used fall colors (listed above) to sponge the tree. I then took Old Olive and lightly sponged around the image. Cut out using the Oval Nestabilities.

TIP: I always do my stamping before I cut them with the Nestabilities. I find if I emboss the edges first (which I do most of the time) that my image has a complete impression and doesn't show a "hiccup" at the border. There's no correct way, it's just the way I do it.

I pressed my Versamark onto the main panel real good then sprinkled the UTEE over it.

ANOTHER TIP: Use a tray or something with edges when using UTEE before applying the heat gun. This is where it can get out of hand if you don't. Trust me, I know...don't ask!! (Let's just say I'm still finding UTEE all over my workspace.) Insert a blushy grin here.

Slowly...and I do say slowly...heat the EP until it melts. Do not rush the melting NOR put your heat gun too close to the powder until it begins to melt. While it is still wet, pour more UTEE over it and repeat the process. I don't know if there is a magical number of times to do this, but I stopped at this point. Then I placed it into the freezer for 15 minutes. While it is still cold, start bending the panel until you get as many "cracks" as you want in it. This is the fun part of the technique! Now take the Walnut Stain and run all over the panel. It will sink down into the cracks and resist the "glass" part.

The Banner: Emboss "blessings" in gold using gold EP on a piece of Naturals Ivory scrap. Sponge some Close to Cocoa all over it. This can be done first or after embossing. Rub the White Craft ink over this piece to give it a more aged appearance. Take scrap pieces of Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa cardstock and punch out the butterflies and leaves. Place them on the banner. Add the pearls for a dressy but not girly touch. Add foam tape in three places on the back; place it in such a way to make it appear as though it has a little movement to the top of the box.

Wah-lah!! You're done. I placed some mixed nuts in the box. I mean, what man doesn't love nuts, huh? It's kinda like chocolate and women. Okay, we both have our vices...

For the next little gift, I made a cone of chocolate kisses with a cute little tag. It is simple and I think you can follow it okay. I'm not as pleased with this as I'd like to be. My recipient loves Kisses and you can't find fall colored kisses where I live, except for Halloween, which has all been cleared off the shelf. So I elected to go ahead with these and use Christmas Kisses. I used PTI's Fall Elegance stamps for the tag and my scalloped rectangle Nesties.

And lastly, here are the little placecards I made for our small family. I thought it would be good to have words describing this "thankful" season instead of names. I used PTI's beautiful Fall Elegance set which fit perfectly inside the Spellbinders Fancy Tags. I saw this basic idea here. (Thanks Kimberly!) These are real easy but a little time consuming...at least more than I anticipated but I love the end result. I only decorated the front of the clip so it would stand up at an angle.

Stamps: PTI Fall Elegance
Ink: Always Artichoke ink and marker
Paper: Pumpkin Spice, Naturals Ivory, Old Olive scrap piece
Accessories: Oval Nestabilities and Spellbinders Fancy Tags Die, MS Leaf Punch, Copper Stickles, Pumpkin Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Large Dimensional Glue Dot, Medium Binder Clip, double sided tape, adhesive

Cut a Fancy Tag from the NI cardstock. Stamp the words in the center of them. Place a dot of the Copper Stickles at the points and set aside to dry. Cut 5 ovals from PP cardstock. Go around the edges with the AA marker and fold them in half. Place a piece of DS tape on each side and lay one on top of the other. When finished you will have a circle that will make the "pumpkin". Punch out 3 leaves from OO cardstock. Cut an 8" piece of ribbon. Now you're ready to assemble.

I found it better to go ahead and tie the ribbon on the clip first. Apply a little glue to the leaves and add to the back of the pumpkin. Place the large dimensional glue dot on the front of the clip then press the pumpkin into it and hold just a second. Be sure that it doesn't fall below the bottom of the clip or it will not stand properly. You want it to be at a small angle so you can read it without picking it up. Add the tag to the top of the clip. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

More Stamp Camp Pics

2009-11-14T08:05:00.006-06:00

Here are a few more pictures from the Stamp Camp outlined in the post below.

Hope you enjoy looking at these great projects today and yesterday, even half as much as I did making them! What do you think?

Projects at Stamp Camp

2009-11-13T11:41:00.007-06:00

Here are some of the projects that we did at Faith's Stamp Camp last month. It was a barrel of fun and totally non-stop!! I'd have never believed that I could have stamped from 7:00 in the morning until after midnight both nights with very little stopping. It was soooo much fun. Sweet Faith had tons of projects for us to do...2 at a table, mind you. Then there was our frenzy on the last day. I didn't get around to doing all of them so they are not shown. I plan to do them later. I quit counting at 55!!! Thanks, everyone, for very nice projects! I learned several new techniques and tried some I've not ventured out to do. I'll always treasure our newfound friendship.

Does this look like fun or what??

Pleased with the Elegance

2009-11-07T13:27:00.007-06:00

These cards are for a couple of challenges. One for CC243 and the other for Stamping B's Christmas card challenge. Though the sketch was not a challenge, I used the same layout for both cards: one in white and the other in ivory. The poinsettia was cut out using Spellbinders Poinsettia Nesties on vellum. After embossing each layer, I turned the die over and stenciled Ruby Red on it using a sponge. This gave it a soft color yet still delicate. The first one uses Clear Dew Drops, Silver HPH, and delicate tiny Kaiser pearls. A glue dot was used to adhere the top layer of the poinsettia to the second (underneath the Dew Drops so it wouldn't show) and foam tape was used to connect that piece to the bottom layer. It doesn't show at all.

Stamps: SU Fancy Flexible Phrases (ret.)
Paper: White, Vellum
Ink: Ruby Red
Accessories: Silver cord, Silver HPH with silver brads, Poinsettia Nesties, Textile EF, Clear Dew Drops, mini glue dots and foam tape.

The second one was a little more vintage looking using ivory cardstock. Small rectangle Nesties were used to cut out the sentiment. Basic Grey Opaline Copper pearls were used in the center of the flower and top corner of the sentiment piece.

Stamps: SU Fancy Flexible Phrases (ret.)
Paper: Ivory, Vellum
Ink: Ruby Red
Accessories: Poinsettia and Rectangle Nesties, Basic Grey Opaline Pearls, Dark Chocolate Satin Ribbon (unk.), mini glue dots and foam tape

Which do you like??

New MS Punch

2009-11-07T13:19:00.003-06:00

I ran across this Martha Stewart Thanksgiving punch the other day at Mike's at 66% off with the Halloween stuff. Don't know why it would be on sale, this holiday hasn't got here yet. But to my advantage, I still needed a couple more cards to complete my Thanksgiving mailouts! So, I grabbed that baby up and flew to the checkout before they realized they made a mistake. I think I probably need to use it with solid paper/cardstock instead of designer paper, but I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Stamps: PTI Fall Elegance
Paper: Cameo Coral, Mellow Moss, Black, Basic Grey Porcelain Papers
Ink: Memento Black
Accessories: MS Thanksgiving punch, Dotted Swiss EF, Grosgrain ribbon, foam tape

Let me know what you think?

FTL66

2009-11-07T13:07:00.006-06:00

When doing this sketch challenge, I had to do something Thanksgiving-y. I could just see leaves falling all around. So I pulled out my PTI Fall Elegance set and begin to put it all together. I stamped the background leaves then overstamped it with the SU Linen stamp (one of my all time fave's). I turned the sketch to the side.

Stamps: PTI Fall Elegance, SU Linen (ret.)
Paper: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Black
Ink: Ruby Red, Mellow Moss, Memento Black
Accessories: Scissors for distressing the edges, Olive Green Organdy (SU ret.), foam tape

What do you think?

Fun, Frenzy, and Friends=Stamping Retreat

2009-11-04T07:35:00.012-06:00

What a great weekend! Last weekend I attended Faith's Stamping Retreat at Stehpen Foster FCC State Park (that's a mouthful to say the least). Once that thing got kicked off it didn't stop until breakfast 2 days later. Friday and Saturday nights we stayed until midnight or after having the most stamping fun you could have. I stopped counting projects at 60! Yep, there were a few more. I don't know how in the world Faith had time to pull so many together. Having two projects to each table to do (with the exception of only a couple of 'em), we were loaded with new ideas and pretty cards and projects to take away. Not only that, we got a very pretty tote when we signed in. I LOVE it! It has a true bottom and pockets on both sides.

I now have friends from many states having shared fun stamping times together. Here are some pictures taken of the retreat. I tried to get everyone and hopefully did. (If for some reason someone is left out, I apologize greatly!!! It was not intentional.) More individual pictures will be posted on SCS, too.

For pictures of the park, go to our other blog to see the write up and slide.

A Couple of New Posts

2009-10-28T06:54:00.003-05:00

I made a few cards the other day and thought I could write a 2-3 posts Monday so I could publish them separately but that just didn't work like I thought. For my posts today, please look at the first one, "It's Snowing Somewhere" and "Are You At Peace?" with the lamb and the lion about the 5th one down. Sorry this didn't turn out quite like I expected. But at least I learned something: write only when you're ready to post, ha! Thanks for looking!

It's Snowing Somewhere

2009-10-26T19:39:00.004-05:00

I loved making this card! It's simple and natural all in one. I cased this from Kristen Moore's card found here. I used a snowflake punch instead of a stamp, different stamp set and added some designer paper. I trimmed the snowflakes where they went over the edge of the Kraft layer.

Stamps: SU's It's Snow Time
Paper: Real Red, Kraft, White (for the snowflakes), Real Red 6x6 DSP
Ink: Memento Black
Accessories: MS Snowflake Punch, SU Red Rhinestone Brads, 7/8" Red Grosgrain Ribbon

Hope you like it. What do you think?

Special Time With Friends

2009-10-26T19:17:00.005-05:00

This is for someone special to me. Though her card making skills are higher than mine, she nevers makes you feel you aren't as good as her. Her humor is great and she's so much fun to be around. I'm not an elaborate card maker and can't really explain my style. I love shabby but I also love clean, crisp and simple. It seems contradictory, huh? So, maybe I'm Simply Shabby?? Who knows? This card fits the Clean and Simple FTL65 Challenge found here. I hope she likes it.

Front:

Inside:

Stamps: SU's Time Well Spent
Paper: Real Red, White
Ink: Real Red and Real Red marker
Accessories: 7/8" Red Grosgrain, SU Scallop punch, Dotted Swiss EF, MS Butterfly punch, Kaiser pearls, Foam adhesive

For My Sweetie

2009-10-26T18:55:00.005-05:00

I wanted to make something special for my hubby and I ran across this sentiment from Verve and knew it was what I wanted. This is for Crazy 4 Cards sketch challenge C4C7 found here. The sentiment reads "If you live to be 100 I hope I live to be 100 minus one day so I NEVER have to live without you. - Winnie the Pooh"

I used SU's In Colors from last year and unknown fibers. Silver HPH was used on small circle Nestabilites die. I used the largest Octagon die so I had to cut apart another one to get the "layer" behind the sentiment panel.

Stamps: Verve's Beautiful You
Ink: Blue Bayou
Paper: River Rock, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Porcelain Prints (ret.)
Accessories: Octagon and small Circle Nestabilities, Silver HPH, unknown fiber, Foam adhesive

I'm interested in what you think...like it?

Dance and Have Fun

2009-10-26T18:37:00.004-05:00

This card uses SU's In Colors from last year. I don't know why I've put off using them, but I love them. It's now too late to do anything about it but relish in the things I do have with them. I'm such a saver! I have tons of stuff and can hardly cut loose and use them. The sentiment reads "Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.-Oprah Winfrey" I took the piece of the circle that was cut off the front and added it to the inside to make it cohesive.

Here's the link to the challenge. And here's my card ...

Stamps: SU's French Script, Linen, Verve's Beautiful You
Paper: River Rock, Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, Porcelain Prints (ret.)
Ink: Blue Bayou, Saraha Sand (shadow on sentiment piece)
Accessories: Circle and Rectangle Nestabilities, Sponge for shadowing, Foam adhesive

Do you like it?

Are You At Peace?

2009-10-26T17:45:00.004-05:00

I wanted this card to have the emphasis on the image and sentiment so I didn't add a lot. Just wanted it to speak for itself. What do you think?

Stamps: SU Peace Be Unto You
Paper: Purchased card base, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Lattice Borderbilities (Spellbinders), Twine, Foam adhesive

Precious Gift

2009-10-26T05:56:00.004-05:00

For some reason, I'm just loving me some red, white, and black! Seems I can't get enough lately. And with Christmas around the corner, who knows? Maybe more than even I realize. They just make such a clean statement to me. Anyway ... back to the card ...

Stamps: SU (don't remember the set)
Paper: White, Real Red, Basic Black, Real Red DSP
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Black Kaiser pearls, MS butterfly punch, red and black grosgrain ribbons, Oval Nesties (cut and embossed), foam tape for dimension.

Is it too plain? Let me know what you think?

A Touch of Sparkle

2009-10-25T11:22:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure why I decided to do the challenge with these color choices. Maybe to me it WAS a challenge. I'm not sure I've ever used Bravo Burgundy before so I used it on a few of the flowers to keep it from overpowering the image. This card fit two challenges, CC241 (SCS Color Challenge) and WSC103 (Beate's) on Splitcoast. I don't think you can see but the Stickles flower centers adds just the right touch with these fancy Spellbinders die cuts.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers
Paper: Cameo Coral, Always Artichoke, AA DSP, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Always Artichoke, Cameo Coral, Bravo Burgundy SU markers, Textile EF, Octagon Nestabilities, Fleur de Lis Shapeabilities

I hope you like it. What do you think?

Fun Afternoon

2009-10-14T15:44:00.005-05:00

I had a little bit of time to make a couple of cards today. Hope you can see these okay as the pictures were taken inside our camper (it was raining outside-yep, with the sun shining). The first one is for challenges NoTimeToStamp108 using the colors (black and kraft) and SC250 for the sketch. Each layer was distressed with my scissors. The leaf panel was in the Fall Elegance set stamped with Sahara Sand multiple times. It was placed on black, both being punched with the ticket punch by SU and raised with foam adhesive. The owl image panels were sponged with Sahara Sand as well and raised before placing on the black panels.

Stamps: PTI Wise Owl, Fall Elegance
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Kraft, Black, unk DSP
Ink: Memento Black, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Dimensionals, sponge, scissors for distressing the edges

The second one was for Card Positioning Systems (CPS137) Challenge sketch and CC240 Color Challenge to use Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip and Apricot Appeal on SCS. I have limited supplies with me but I did have Apricot Appeal brads. Though it's just a touch, it does meet the challenge requirement. The card base is Ivory embossed with the Textile Cuttlebug Folder. A strip of Parisian Breeze Speciality Paper was layered on Taken with Teal. The large Damask Design of PTI's Damask Designs Set is the focal image. It was cut and embossed using the two largest Labels I Nestabilities. An Apricot Appeal brad was placed in the center. This panel was raised with foam adhesive.

Stamps: PTI Damask Designs
Paper: Ivory, Parisian Breeze (chocolate), Taken with Teal
Ink: Taken with Teal
Accessories: Textile EF, Apricot Appeal brad, Labels I Nestabilities, foam adhesive

World Card Making Day

2009-10-04T17:49:00.004-05:00

I was out of pocket most of the day Saturday, the real World Card Making Day, but was able to come up with a few. I may still do a couple more of them just not submit as an official WCMD entry. Thank you for your comments!

My first card is for WCMD09A by Unity Stamps to use a quote as your main image. When I decided on this challenge distressing came to my mind. With the use of panels and square Nestabilities and neutral colors everything fell in place. This picture was taken outside and the wind was blowing. Between the card falling consistently and trying to keep it in place, it appears as though the ribbon is "off" but it's not. The ivory panel next to the Kraft card base was distressed and edged with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

Paper: Kraft, Ivory, Black, Patterned Paper
Ink: Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Accessories: Square Nestabilities, River Rock (ret.) ribbon

The second card met a couple of challenges. One for Crafty Secret's challenge to use dimension and the second for SCS's challenge to use chocolate, thanks sentiment and a sketch.

Stamps: Verve's Beauty in Nature, Beautiful You
Ink: Baja Breeze, Blue Bajou
Paper: SU DSP (ret.), Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Ivory, misc. patterned paper
Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, Small hole punch for corner circles, light blue Dew Drops, foam tape

The last card is for WCMD09J which is to use Pumpkin, Chocolate and Vanilla. I love my Nestabilities, any of them, and try to use them as much as possible. I stamped PTI Damask Designs in Pumpkin Pie on Pumpkin Pie, topped it with ret. satin Chocolate Chip ribbon. Ornamental image was raised on foam dots.

Stamps: PTI Damask Deisgns
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Ivory
Accessories: Different Spellbinder shapes, Chocolate Chip ribbon, foam dots

I appreciate your comments and thank you for them.

A Little Black Will Do

2009-09-20T12:56:00.002-05:00

Well, it looks like I'm on a roll today!! It's about time. The more it came together, the more I wanted to add to it. I hope I didn't take away from it's simplicity. I really like that style.

If I had had some red flocking, I'd have used it on the Damask design. I could just "feel" it, can't you? Dawn McVey did an outstanding job in designing that set...thanks Dawn!! Because of the Damask, I thought it lent itself to a more sophisticated look. After pulling the red and white together, I felt that a splash of black was what it needed to make it pop. The little butterflies have tiny Kaiser pearls on them and then their wings pulled away so as to look like they are in flight. Hope you enjoy this. Thanks for looking!!

Stamps: PTI Damask Designs, SU Friendship Flowers
Paper: White, Real Red, Black
Ink: Real Red Craft & Classic
Accessories: Wide red grosgrain ribbon, MS triple Butterfly punch (my favorite!!), Kaiser pearls, liquid glue, 3M foam tape

2009-09-20T11:21:00.002-05:00

I ran across one of Darlene's cards she uploaded today and loved the simplicity of it so I decided to case it. Her card can be found here. I loved everything about it. I changed the embossing folder, image, sentiment and ribbon style. In being so closely related, I want to be sure to give her the credit she deserves!

I wished I had stamped off the Creamy Caramel "shadow" once before laying it down but maybe it just looks like the sun is really shining. Yeah, that's it, it is noon here!! I love this sketch and will probably use it again and again. This was simply done, therefore very fast. Thanks for looking! And, thanks, Darlene!!

Stamps: Verve's Beauty in Nature, SU's Essence of Love (sentiment)
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip scrap (for butterfly)
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Textile EF, Grosgrain Ribbon (that sooo closely matches Creamy Caramel), MS triple Butterfly punch

A Couple of Challenges

2009-09-20T07:55:00.004-05:00

I haven't done a challenge in a while and two of them kinda fell into my lap's interest. That is, they were fast and simple! This card fit both challenges.

I cut and embossed the oval piece after I'd stamped the image. The Afternoon Tea and Groovey Guava pieces were edged with Chocolate Chip ink. The Groovy Guava piece was also embossed using the CB Textile EF. The varied shades of Primas were centered with clear Dew Drops.

The SSNOTIME 105 Challenge was to use only black or brown ink for stamping. Here are the details. The layout is for the C4-C3 Challenge seen here. I hope you enjoy this...thanks for looking!

Stamps: Verve's Beauty in Nature
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: White, SU's retired Afternoon Tea DSP and Groovy Guava
Accessories: Oval Nesties, Textile embossing folder, Chocolate Ribbon (retired SU), MS triple Butterfly punch, small Primas, clear Dew Drops, 3M foam tape

2009-09-18T11:13:00.002-05:00

I really enjoyed making this fall card. Using navy, pumpkin and ivory colors made it feel warm and inviting.

Recipe...
Stamps: PTI Fall Elegance and Damask Designs
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke, Versamark, Creamy Caramel for sponging
Accessories: Square Nesties (even the small ones in the corner), clear and orange rhinestones, 3M foam tape

After cutting out the squares, I embossed them followed by distressing the edges with my scissors. I've tried different distressing tools and techniques but always come back to the ole faithful scissors. They give me the look I want every time. The blue strip is a NQN remnant that I distressed and wrapped around the Pumpkin Pie square. The NQN background was stamped with one of the Damask Designs in Versamark to give it a subtle look without taking away from the image. When I finished stamping I thought it needed a "pop" so I found and added the clear rhinestones to the cute little pumpkins. Initially, I was going to put brads on the bottom right, but just couldn't get it to "feel" right. Then I found the smallest square from my Nesties and tried it (then embossed it). They worked like I wanted. Adding the golden rhinestones gave it the look I was searching for. I hope you like it. Thank you for looking!

2009-09-13T15:54:00.005-05:00

This first card is done with SU's retired Blossoms Abound. The two-step sets make such a nice finished product. This is the prettiest set and many different colors can be used for the blooms.

Stamps: SU! Blossoms Abound, Inspired by Nature (sentiment)
Paper: Rebecca DSP, Mellow Moss, white
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Pink Taffeta ribbon

The next one uses one of PTI's sets. I'm in love with their stamps...oh, yeah, I've already said that...well, I do! Now, I just need hours and hours and hours to spend using all of the sets I've recently purchased. Couldn't help myself...and I want more! Guess I'm an addict, oh well, could be worse, huh?

Stamps: PTI Mailbox Greetings
Paper: Naturals Ivory
Ink: Chocolate Chip, various SU markers
Accessories: Brown checkered ribbon, Nut Brown Flower Soft, dimensionals

Hope you enjoy these. Your comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

2009-09-05T04:28:00.003-05:00

Boy, is it getting busy. Seems like we have something all the time now. Fall is our most favorite time of the year. It is a time that running races are "hot" (for lack of a better word), ha! So our weekends are quite busy along with the week days of getting out to run and train. Now with all of that said, I know you've notice that I haven't posted any new cards lately. It won't be long and I'll have some up and posted. Thanks so much for your patience! See you soon.

2009-08-24T19:31:00.005-05:00

Can't seem to find my MOJO. Have been in a slump lately. But a couple of days ago I did make a couple of cards. Surprisingly, I think they turned out okay...without the motivation of a challenge. I am blessed to have so many products that I can't use them all before they are retired or replaced with other new goodies. I am hoping to use a lot of them on cards in the near future. Is this guilt...hmmmm!!

This first one uses SU dsp and the French Script background stamp both now retired. I first used a circle punch and sponged Summer Sun on watercolor paper in the punched out circle to get the soft sun. Then I stamped Inspired by Nature in Always Artichoke. This was then cut out with the Labels I Nestabilities and layered onto a larger piece in Chocolate Chip. Each of these pieces have dimensionals on them. The base card is Naturals Ivory. French Script was stamped in Creamy Caramel on the base card with a piece of the dsp layered onto a small strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock and placed on the base card. The main image was then placed to finish the card.

The second one begins with black cardstock as the base. I used Just My Type CB EF on the edge. I hope you can see it; it makes an elegant statement. A piece of Basic Gray SU was stamped with the French Script in same ink. The top and bottom edges were distressed and placed on the base card. The main image is from the Thoughts and Prayers set stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and cut out and embossed using a large oval Nestabilities. Three medium Kaiser black pearls were placed on the rounded edge. This image was raised and placed on the base piece. A piece of white cardstock was put inside with Pocket Silhouettes stamped second generation at the bottom.

The last one is my favorite of the three. I love the Flopsey here. He's from the I Need Coffee Flopsey set. I stamped him on watercolor paper and paper pieced his shoes and coffee cup and raised it on dimensionals. I was paranoid coloring him since everyone uses Copics...I don't have any and not sure I have the sense to use them, ha! So I watercolored him with SU Classic ink pad. I thought he turned out cute (better IRL than here). I also did a wash behind him in Green Galore and Taken with Teal. I added cute little cheeks with the Stampin Pastels. This was cut out with the Labels I Nestabilities die. Another piece of Chocolate Chip was double cut and embossed using the same Labels I set and placed at an angle behind him. The base card is Green Galore and matched the Basic Grey Two Scoops papers perfectly. I love the blues and greens. Though you cannot see it, I put a strip of the BG paper on the bottom of the inside and attached it with 2 medium sized blue brads to finish it off.

2009-08-13T16:52:00.004-05:00

Here's a card I made for my grandson, Spencer. He's turning 13 Saturday so I'm having to change my style with him. I mean, after all, what 13 year old boy wants something cutesy??

I received my Star Nestabilities in the mail yesterday and was excited I got them in time. So I pulled out my Cuttlebug Traffic Jam EF and went to cutting stars out of my Core'dination black papers. The light colored star is NOT pink as it may appear; it's a golden color. The other stars have a rusty "belly" under the black (not pink) so when you sand it that color comes through. I thought it looked real "jeansy" looking and would fit a boy. What do you think?

Stamps: Smarty Pants (sentiment inside)
Paper: Old Olive, Core'dinations
Ink: Black craft
Accessories: Black EP, Kaiser green rhinestone, Star Nestabilities, CB Traffic Jam EF, dimensionals, sanding block

The sentiment inside reads "Be Yourself, Nobody is Better Qualified".

2009-08-08T15:44:00.002-05:00

I've not used my Flourishes DIY Topiary set yet and thought I'd pull it out and give it a try. Oh, my...it is so elegant! The images are so crisp it's like you could reach out and touch whatever it is you stamped. It makes a nouvice look better than they are...hee-hee Ü

The recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes DIY Topiary
Paper: Ivory, Old Olive, Basic Grey Urban Prairie, Creamy Caramel
Ink: Old Olive, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Green Kaiser Rhinestones, Oval & Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, Fleur De Lis Spellbinders
On the inside, I layed down a strip of Old Olive along the bottom edge. Then cut out a very small oval Nestabilitie out and embossed it. With the extra that was trimmed off the Fleur DL die cut, I trimmed one of the designs and placed it on the oval piece and put it at an angle on the left side. Then I took 3 larger green Kaiser rhinestones and put it in the bottom right corner in a triangle fashion.

Butterfly Wishes

2009-08-08T13:11:00.003-05:00

This little card was made for Card Patterns Sketch 27.

Here's what I used.

Stamps: Fresh Cuts (SU), Mailbox Greetings (PTI)
Paper: Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, White
Ink: Old Olive, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Square & Scalloped Nestabilities, Butterflies Spellbinders, Kaiser Pearls, Small & Large Scallop SU Punches, Adhesive and Dimensionals